Joseph Lindberg, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
A report of a dead goat, a condom and hair gel on a Grant Township farm in early August prompted authorities to use DNA testing to target a suspect.
Abimael Rojas Dominguez, 37, is charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony third-degree burglary after his partial DNA profile matched samples taken from inside the goat, according to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County District Court.
If convicted of the most serious charge, Dominguez faces up to five years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint:
The Washington County sheriff’s office responded to a report of “a dead goat and possible sodomy” Aug. 2 at Axdahl’s Farm in Washington County. The next day, investigators learned that a vehicle was towed from near the farm the morning of Aug. 2 and then tracked the vehicle through an employer to Dominguez.
Dominguez told authorities he had been drinking. When authorities asked if they would find his fingerprints at the scene or see him on surveillance video, Dominguez said he didn’t know.
Investigators then took a DNA sample.
A partial DNA profile completed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the probability of selecting a random person and having his DNA match samples taken from the goat was about 1 in 110,500.
Dominguez was unable to provide a permanent address to authorities, and his whereabouts are unknown.
