Montgomery County serial rape suspect arrested in cases dating back more than 10 years, police say

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Officials say they have arrested a 39-year-old Maryland man in connection with unsolved rape incidents dating back over 10 years -- including the rape of a 68-year-old woman and an 86-year-old woman in Germantown.

Montgomery County police say they have arrested Marlon Michael Alexander of Germantown for attempting to commit a sexual offense and for committing three, first-degree rapes in the Gaithersburg and Germantown areas during a time span of about three years, between 2007 and 2011.

Police say Alexander is suspected for his involvement in four burglary and sexual assault cases. One case in June 2010, a rape of 68-year-old woman in her home in Germantown; an incident in August 2010, a rape of an 86-year-old woman who lived at a senior living center in Germantown; and a rape of a woman in Germantown in January 2011.

Alexander is also suspected of attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman in Gaithersburg in August 2007.

Officials say Alexander has also been charged with first-degree burglary in these four crimes as he gained entry into the victims' homes before sexually assaulting them.

Investigators say they obtained Alexander's DNA through a search warrant after he came up as a suspect. They say his DNA matched the DNA samples left by the suspect in four sexual assault cases.

Detectives believe it is possible that Alexander committed additional sexual assaults and continue to examine similar unsolved rapes that have occurred in Montgomery County.

Officials will be holding a press conference at 3 p.m. at the Montgomery County Public Safety Headquarters in Gaithersburg.