DNA evidence has cracked a Greeley kidnapping case that's been cold since 2001.

Greeley Police said Jaime “James” Zamora was confirmed to be the man who kidnaped and sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl on the morning of September 18, 2001.

Zamora was 26 years old and living in Greeley while working for a local sandwich shop at the time of the crime. Zamora died in 2014 while living in Wellington but DNA from his autopsy was recently tested and matched the suspect.

Investigators said Zamora was "estranged from his family and a loner."  Anyone who knew Jaime “James” Zamora or had any interactions with him is encouraged to contact Greeley Police detective Robert Cash at 970-350-9601.

The girl had been walking to school with her eight-year-old brother near 5th Avenue on 9th Street in Northeast Greeley when Zamora forced her into his car. He drove the victim to a secluded area south of the Greeley airport east of Highway 85 where he sexually assaulted her.

Fortunately, the victim was able to escape to a nearby Air National Guard base where police were called. Evidence was collected but the case went cold for years.

A seven-year-old girl had been forced into the car of a man while walking to school.

Greeley Police helped solve the case by asking for the help of Parabon NanoLabs in 2019 — the Virginia company specializes in DNA phenotyping. That DNA analysis profile led investigators to Zamora.

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