Jury Convicts Man in Rape and Kidnapping Case After Swift Deliberation

Shelby County, TN – A Shelby County jury has found 38-year-old Dontel Morgan guilty of two counts of Aggravated Rape and two counts of Aggravated Kidnapping for a violent 2014 attack involving both a knife and a handgun.

Investigators say Morgan approached an unknown woman with a knife, dragged her while threatening to harm her, and when she screamed for help, he rubbed the knife across her back. He then forced her into a secluded area, pulled out a handgun, and demanded she perform sexual acts before raping her.

The victim immediately called police after the assault. A sexual assault evidence kit was submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which confirmed the DNA belonged to Morgan.

Following a three-day trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict on Friday in less than an hour. Prosecutors Dru Carpenter and Nicole Germain led the case, presenting key evidence and witness testimony. Victim Witness Coordinator Shanika Stone and Investigator Jim Byars also testified to support the prosecution’s case.

Morgan will be sentenced at a later date.