'Roaming Rapist' suspect arrested in Isleton | Crime

SACRAMENTO, CA - The 14-year search for the man known as the "Roaming Rapist" ended Friday morning with the arrest of Dereck Sanders at a home in Isleton.

Sanders, 39, was taken into custody without incident and charged with a series of nine sexual assaults involving 10 women that took place in the city and county of Sacramento between 1998 and 2003.

DNA samples from the sexual assaults all pointed to one man, but investigators were unable to identify the man until they conducted a so-called "familial" search, which ended with a hit on Sanders' older brother, Ladell.

Ladell Sanders' DNA is in the criminal database from earlier convictions. 

Ladell Sanders, 42, is currently in the Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial on separate sexual assault charges.

After linking the "Roaming Rapist" series to a relative of Ladell Sanders, investigators began focusing on Dereck Sanders.

According to an affidavit that led to the arrest warrant, detectives followed Dereck Sanders to a McDonald's restaurant and recovered DNA from a drinking straw they saw him throw in the trash.

READ: Sanders criminal complaint accompanies story

Sanders' arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 13 in Sacramento Superior Court.

by George Warren, GWarren@news10.net