Auburn man arrested in 2008 sexual assault case following DNA match
Auburn Police have arrested a local man in connection with a 2008 sexual assault after a recent DNA match identified him as the suspect, authorities announced Tuesday.
Cord Smith, 39, of Auburn, was taken into custody on November 16, 2025, and charged with sodomy first degree, more than 17 years after the initial crime was reported. The arrest follows a lengthy investigation that began in March 2008, when officers responded to a report of a sexual assault at a residence in Auburn.
According to police, the victim told officers they had been sexually assaulted shortly before calling for help. The attacker was unknown to the victim, but the victim provided investigators with a description of the suspect and details about the incident. Detectives processed the scene and collected evidence that supported the victim’s account.
The evidentiary items were submitted to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for testing, but for years the suspect remained unidentified. That changed when Auburn Police received notice from DFS confirming a DNA match linking Smith to the 2008 assault.
The breakthrough led to additional investigative steps, and earlier this year the case was presented to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office for review. A Lee County Grand Jury subsequently returned an indictment charging Smith with first-degree sodomy.
On Nov. 16, Auburn Police located Smith and arrested him in accordance with the indictment.
In addition to the sodomy charge, Smith is being charged with two counts of giving false identification to a law enforcement officer and two counts of failure to appear related to unrelated warrants. He was transported to the Lee County Jail, where he is being held without bond, pending further judicial review.
Related stories
Crime & SafetyAuburn man arrested on felony assault warrant following report of assault
CrimeOPD: Police investigating shooting in Opelika; road closed
Crime & SafetyBREAKING: 16-year-old identified as victim in fatal Troup County shooting; suspect arrested
Crime & SafetyTwo men arrested in Auburn home invasion case after fleeing state
Crime & Safety16-year-old arrested on 10 felony swatting charges in Auburn