DOUGLAS COUNTY – The Lawrence Kansas Police Department in collaboration with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office announce the arrest of an alleged child sex offender whose crimes date back to 2000-2003. The announcement came during a press conference Tuesday in Lawrence.
The identification and ultimate arrest are the result of meticulous investigative work and the same science that brought in California’s “Golden State Killer” in 2018.
Monday, December 29, 2025, at the request of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department, U.S. Marshals arrested 58-year-old David James Zimbrick of Raytown, Missouri. Zimbrick is being held in Jackson County Missouri as he awaits extradition to Douglas County.
Between 2000 and 2003, a series of sex crimes occurred in the Naismith Valley Park area, 1400 W. 27th Street. Reports indicate the suspect would lure children into the bushes to perform sexual assaults. The children involved were between 7 and 10 years old.
Despite unknown future technology, detectives thoroughly inspected the scene collecting any potential clues. While a distinct DNA profile was recovered, it yielded no match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the national database of known offenders. With no further leads, the case eventually sat dormant.
In 2018, when California’s “Golden State Killer” was arrested, Detective Amy Price, who was involved in the original investigations, took note of their use of genetic genealogy. Detective Price submitted a request for funding and ultimately sent the evidence to Parbon Nanolabs. Parabon specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to solve cases where there is DNA evidence, but the offender’s identity remains unknown.
In March of 2020, Parabon notified Price that they had successfully genotyped the newly submitted DNA from one of the cases. The lengthy investigation that followed led to clues throughout the United States until the suspect was ultimately identified then located in Raytown, MO.
U.S. Marshals made the arrest without incident. David James Zimbrick is charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy and one count of Rape in two cases. He’s being held in Jackson County Missouri Correctional Facility awaiting extradition back to Douglas County, Kansas.
“This arrest is a testament to the fact that time does not diminish our commitment to victims and their families,” says Chief Rich Lockhart. “I am continually impressed with the dedicated professionals who work in this department and am specifically proud of Detective Amy Price, who was assigned to this case and never let time nor dead ends deter her from continuing the search. Crimes against children last a lifetime. It is my hope that this arrest provides some comfort.”