Georgia investigators are actively searching for possible victims of a convicted Florida sex offender. DNA evidence has linked him to three sexual assault cases involving women allegedly enticed through Craigslist job advertisements.
Current Charges and Background
Julius Hunter, 42, faces charges of rape, aggravated sodomy, and kidnapping in Georgia. These charges relate to a 2016 assault on a 19-year-old at a Clarkston apartment complex. A DeKalb County grand jury indicted him on August 11.
Prior to his arrest in Georgia, Hunter pleaded no contest in a separate 2021 Florida sexual battery case involving his former girlfriend. Authorities think this could be part of a wider pattern of sexual assaults.
Victims and Law Enforcement Actions
“Hunter grew up in New Jersey, so there may be victims there.” – DeKalb County District Attorney Investigator Brandi Rogers
DNA matched evidence from two more sexual assault cases in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties in 2016 and 2017. Although he isn’t charged in these cases, authorities are still trying to contact the two women involved.
Circumstances of the $300 Babysitting Job
The 19-year-old believed she was going to a $300 overnight babysitting job. Hunter arranged her ride to an apartment near 700 Jolly Avenue on July 27, 2016. When she arrived, no children were present—only Hunter and another man.
When she attempted to leave, Hunter allegedly stopped her and assaulted her for several hours. She was released the next day and managed to contact the police through a cab driver.
DNA Technology and Arrest
The Clarkston case was a mystery for years. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation had developed a male DNA profile but found no match. This changed after Hunter’s 2021 conviction in Florida. His DNA was entered into the national database, linking him to the Clarkston case and others in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
Authorities arrested Hunter in Fort Lauderdale on August 13, two days after his indictment. He was extradited to Georgia on August 20.
Public Appeal and Investigation
Julius Hunter was serving probation in Florida when Georgia authorities secured his indictment. Don Plummer, from the Georgia Public Defender Council representing Hunter, declined to comment.
The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office noted similarities in the Georgia cases, with Hunter using Craigslist ads to recruit women for roles like babysitting, modeling, dancing, and massages.
Authorities suspect additional victims may exist, given the number of incidents in a short timeframe. The Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Task Force is reviewing these cold-case sexual assaults.
“We ask anyone who believes they may have been victimized to call our tip line at 404-371-2444.” – Brandi Rogers
Rogers encourages anyone who thinks they are a victim to contact law enforcement. They offer support whether or not a person chooses to proceed with prosecution.