Linwood Scott Jr., age 72, pleaded guilty to the 1992 rape of a Norfolk woman, decades after the crime went unsolved. Scott, already serving a 30-year sentence for a 1994 rape case, admitted to the additional crime as part of a plea deal on October 28. The new sentence requires Scott to serve an additional five years, resulting in a total of 35 years in prison.
Scott’s connection to the 1992 case was confirmed through DNA evidence re-tested as part of Virginia’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), a program by the Office of the Attorney General aimed at clearing the backlog of untested DNA kits from cold cases across the state. The SAKI program, which started in Virginia in 2016 with support from a national grant, recently provided another layer of closure for families by analyzing physical evidence recovery kits (PERKs) that had previously yielded no results due to technology limitations.
The 1992 crime took place in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, where Scott reportedly entered the apartment of Shawn Kuzel* in the early morning, armed himself with a kitchen knife, and proceeded to sexually assault her. Following the attack, Kuzel received treatment for her injuries and underwent a forensic exam, during which Scott’s DNA was collected. However, testing at the time was unable to provide an investigative lead.
In 2023, investigators submitted Kuzel’s evidence for modern DNA analysis. This time, the semen sample matched Scott’s DNA, leading to his indictment on multiple charges, including rape and abduction with intent to defile. This case follows Scott’s previous conviction in 2022, when a Norfolk jury found him guilty in a 1994 cold case assault. His connection to that incident was also identified by re-testing evidence at the urging of the 1994 victim, who contacted authorities after hearing about advancements in DNA testing.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi, expressing appreciation for Kuzel’s resilience, said, “Without her help, we would not have been able to hold Mr. Scott accountable for his crime.” He also noted the significant impact of Virginia’s SAKI program, which he said is “correcting a historic wrong” by putting once-forgotten evidence to work in convicting dangerous offenders.
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michelle L. Newkirk, who led the prosecution for both cases, worked alongside Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney George M. Afentakis and Norfolk Police Sergeant Brian C. Williams to secure the plea agreement. The recent guilty plea and sentence mark another step toward justice for survivors of violent crimes long delayed by evidence backlogs but now re-opened through dedicated forensic initiatives.