Who: 
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office 
Support Services Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau 
- Robbery/Homicide Unit 

Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
Criminal Investigations Division
-Major Case Section, Cold Case Unit

Robert Lee Burton (Arrested) 
DOB: 06/16/1969 
Address: 7128 Onyx Drive North, St. Petersburg 
Charge: Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon

The victim is currently a 62-year-old female, Per Fl Statute 119.071(2)(h)1.b no other information will be released that would tend to identify the victim. 

What: 
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/ Homicide Unit have arrested a sexual battery suspect from a 1993 cold case. Detectives were able to identify the man with the help of DNA technology. 

When: 
The crime occurred at approximately 12:30 am on Saturday, January 21, 1993. 

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at approximately 9:00 pm.  

Where: 
The crime occurred in the area of Florida Sands Mobile Home Park located at 2701 50^th Avenue in St. Petersburg.

Why/How: 
According to detectives, in the early morning hours of January 21, 1993, the female victim, who was 37-years of age at the time, was walking home from a friend’s house in the area. As the victim was walking through the area, a male subject confronted the victim by grabbing her arm as he displayed a handgun and ordered her to go behind a mobile home. 

Once behind the mobile home, the male ordered the victim to undress and lay on the ground at gunpoint and then sexually battered her.

During the investigation evidence was collected, processed and submitted for analysis. 

Through cooperation with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Robert Burton was identified as the suspect in this 1993 Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon.

Ultimately DNA evidence confirmed that Burton was the suspect.

On May 2, 2018, detectives made contact with 48-year-old Robert Burton and interviewed him at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road, in Largo.

Burton denied knowing the victim or having sexual intercourse with her.

Burton was arrested at about 9:00 pm on May 2, 2018, and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

Burton was charged with one count of Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon.

Robert Burton booking photo.