WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Forsyth County jury has convicted a North Carolina man in a decades-old sexual assault case involving a Wake Forest University student, bringing closure to a cold case that remained unsolved for more than 20 years.
Prosecutors said David Eric Mills, now 50, broke into the off-campus residence of a 21-year-old student on April 3, 2000, bound her hands behind her back, blindfolded her, threatened her with a knife, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing. Despite extensive investigation at the time, the case went cold until DNA collected from the original sexual assault kit was re-tested and entered into the national CODIS database. A match to Mills was confirmed in 2022, leading to his arrest and eventual trial.
Jurors found Mills guilty of first-degree sexual assault and first-degree kidnapping. A judge sentenced him to between 43 and 57 years in state prison, and he will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Court and correctional records show that Mills has an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 1990s. His previous convictions include multiple breaking and entering offenses, vehicle break-ins, attempted second-degree kidnapping, assault on a female, indecent exposure, speeding from police, second-degree trespassing, and a series of felony and misdemeanor drug-related charges, including possession with intent to sell Schedule I substances, attempted trafficking, and maintaining a place for controlled substances. Several of those convictions resulted in incarceration, probation, and revocation periods in Forsyth, Guilford, and Davie counties.
Officials said the long-dormant case underscores the importance of preserving evidence and retesting forensic material as technology advances.
Forsyth County prosecutors praised investigators, victim advocates, and the survivor, who participated in the prosecution after more than two decades.
Wake Forest University issued a statement acknowledging the verdict and reiterating support services for survivors of sexual violence.
Anyone with information about other cases involving Mills is urged to contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office or local authorities.