Anthony Wayne Meredith, age 22, of Park City, Utah, will be arraigned today at the Lane County Jail on charges of Rape in the First Degree, Rape in the Second Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Sodomy in the Second Degree.
On December 31, a 12-year-old girl was raped at Alton Baker Park in the late afternoon/early evening after she had gone there with a 9-year-old sister and 9-year-old cousin to feed the ducks at the pond. A young boy had approached them earlier and asked them if they wanted to play ‘hide and seek.’ The boy’s older stepbrother, the suspect, joined them. The girls played hide and seek with the boy and the suspect for a while. While the victim was walking to a brushy area to hide, the suspect pushed her to the ground and raped and sodomized her. Her two friends were present during the attempt and screamed and hit the suspect, trying to make him stop. After the attack, the girls rode home on their bikes and the victim told her mother, who called police.
Police released a composite sketch and description, see prior news releases, below.
Investigators also gathered evidence, including DNA. The DNA evidence was entered into the national database for DNA (CODIS). In late August, 2014, Oregon State Police notified Eugene Police detectives of a match to Anthony Wayne Meredith, currently living in Utah. Detectives followed up after a Grand Jury indictment and issuance of a warrant for Meredith’s arrest. On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, Meredith was arrested at his home in Park City and he was transported to Eugene and lodged at the Lane County Jail last night, October 8, 2014.
The suspect had been living with his mother near Alton Baker in 2008.
Prior News Releases:
Investigation Leads to Additional Information on the Suspect in Rape of 12-year-old at Alton Baker Park
Case No. 08-24804
During the course of their investigation, detectives with the Eugene Police Violent Crimes Unit have received information the suspect in the December 31 rape of a 12-year-old girl at Alton Baker Park, may have attended Willamette High School in the recent past. Detectives believe the suspect may have been in Eugene from the state of Washington visiting family during the Christmas holidays.
Details revealed the suspect was possibly seen leaving the park in a new silver or grey pickup. The suspect was accompanied by an 8- to 10-year-old boy with blonde hair who may be his step-brother.
Detectives are releasing photos of a similar shirt and jacket to the one the suspect was wearing at the time of the incident. The suspect is described as a dark skin male, 16- to 20-years-old, 5’08” – 5’11” tall, medium build, ear length dark curly hair pulled up in the front, wispy goatee and mustache possible tattoo on the upper left arm of a heart.
Anyone with information regarding this is as asked to contact Detective Dan Braziel at 682-5836.
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Eugene Police Department News Release
January 1, 2009
Eugene Police Seeking Leads in Rape of 12-year-old at Alton Baker Park
Case No. 08-24804
Eugene Police detectives are seeking leads in the forcible rape of a 12-year-old girl at Alton Baker Park that occurred December 31, 2008, in the late afternoon or early evening.
The victim, her sister and a cousin were riding their bikes near Alton Baker Park when they were approached by a 19- to 20-year-old male who had an 8- to 9-year-old boy with him. The boy had blond hair and was possibly named "David." The male forced the victim to the ground and forcibly raped her. The incident occurred near the entrance to Alton Baker Park.
The suspect is described as a dark skinned male, 5’9” tall, 175 to 180 pounds, with ear length curly black hair, goatee, tattoo of a heart on his left arm above the elbow. He was last seen wearing a black fur coat, blue South Pole shirt, black South Pole pants and red underwear (short, but not boxers).
If anyone has information about this case they are asked to contact Detective Braziel, phone number 682-5836.