Fayetteville Police arrested 25 year-old Coweta County resident David Travis Dennis late Thursday afternoon on charges of rape and incest pertaining to a 17 year-old relative who was visiting Fayetteville to attend a party to celebrate Dennis’ release from prison just one day prior to the crime.
Det. Mike Whitlow said the incident was initially reported on July 1 when a female relative of Dennis went to Piedmont-Fayette Hospital to report she had been raped.
Hospital staff called 911 to report the incident and police responded to the hospital, Whitlow said. A Fayetteville detective was summoned and interviewed the female who identified Dennis as the suspect, Whitlow added. The female stated the incident occurred after a party for Dennis who had just been released from prison.
Information obtained through the Georgia Dept. of Corrections showed that Dennis had been released from Walker State Prison on June 30, having served nearly 13 months after being convicted on charges from Clayton County in 2008 related to a drug law violation, criminal trespass and 2nd degree criminal damage.
The following day, July 1, a party was held for Dennis at a restaurant in Fayetteville to celebrate his release from prison, Whitlow said. Some of those attending the party subsequently went to a residence in Fayetteville where the incident occurred, Whitlow said. At one point during the night Dennis entered a bedroom and forcibly raped his 17 year-old relative, said Whitlow.
Whitlow said that after the report the investigation was then turned over to Det. Lt. Debbie Chambers and evidence obtained from the victim was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for processing. On November 3, Det. Chambers received information from the GBI that the DNA obtained from evidence and the suspect’s DNA were a match.
Dennis was arrested Thursday by Coweta County law enforcement at his parole office in Coweta based on the warrant taken by Fayetteville Police.
Dennis was subsequently picked up by Fayetteville detectives.
Whitlow said Dennis also had a prior arrest in Fayette County.
Whitlow commended the victim for the assistance she provided, along with the help provided by the staff at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, “Who did a great job in handling this delicate situation.”
