A California man who attempted to frame his twin brother for the rape of a 9-year-old girl and a jogger was sentenced to 140 years to life this week.
According to a statement from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, genealogy technology was critical in solving crimes committed decades ago. The technology led investigators to Kevin Konther and his twin brother, who were involved in the 1995 and 1998 assaults.
On Monday, a judge imposed the harshest term possible, sentencing Konther, 58, to 140 to life in prison.
According to the press statement, the jury found him guilty of various offenses, including two felony counts of forced rape, two felony counts of forceful oral copulation, one felony count of a forcible lewd act on a juvenile, and one felony count of a lewd and lascivious act with a minor.
According to The Mercury News, the judge at the sentencing described Konther as “a sexual carnivore” and remarked, “This is like a cat, a lion, a cheetah looking for prey.”
“Vultures don’t do this to their young, rats don’t do this.”
How did the conviction happen?
Despite having identical DNA, covertly recorded discussions between the twin brothers following their incarceration revealed incriminating admissions from Kevin Konther.
While the twin brother has not been charged, recorded conversations suggest that he was astonished by the claims leveled against Kevin.
“Identical twins share the same DNA, but conversations covertly recorded between the two brothers following their arrests revealed multiple incriminating statements made by Kevin Konther, including admissions that he carried out the crimes,” said the DA’s office when Konther was initially convicted in February.
According to NBC News, Konther was convicted in February after a jury found him guilty of two counts of forceful rape, as well as additional charges connected to the molestation of a third victim—the 12-year-old daughter of a previous lover, as detailed by the prosecutor’s office.
Charges Against Konther
The horrible incidents date back to 1995, when Konther, armed with a knife, violently raped a 9-year-old girl as she walked home in Lake Forest, southeast of Irvine in Orange County. In 1998, he attacked and sexually raped a 32-year-old lady while jogging in Mission Viejo. He was arrested in 2019.