Man Arrested in Connection with Thirty-One-Year-Old Rape Case; Possibility of Additional Victims a Concern

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Gaithersburg, MD –Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Cold Case Unit have arrested 62-year-old Xavier Battice, of California, for a rape allegedly committed 31-years-ago. Detectives have released photos of Xavier Battice and are urging anyone who may be a victim of sexual assault by Battice to come forward.

The investigation has revealed that on September 24, 1992, the female victim exited a bus near the 5400 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase. The suspect, later identified as Xavier Battice, followed the victim, took her to a nearby park and raped her before leaving the scene.

Cold Case detectives submitted evidence from the crime scene to the crime laboratory, and a DNA profile was extracted from the evidence. The DNA was submitted into the Combined DNA Index System and matched to Battice.

Cold Case detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Battice, charging him with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of second-degree sex assault.

Detectives determined that Battice was living in Morgan Hill, California and notified the Morgan Hill Police Department (MHPD) of the investigation. Battice was then arrested by MHPD and transported to a detention center in California, where he awaited extradition to Montgomery County.

On Friday, December 15, Battice was transported by MCP officers to the Montgomery County Central Processing, where he is being held without bond.

Detectives are concerned there may be additional victims of sexual assault by Battice that have not contacted police.

Anyone with information regarding this crime or additional victims is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “ www.p3tips.com ” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.