A Decatur man has been handed a life sentence after pleading guilty to a series of heinous crimes, including two home invasion rape cases. Nathan Mullins, age 36, faced a litany of charges that included Aggravated Sodomy, Rape, and Armed Robbery. Details released by the DeKalb County District Attorney's office confirmed that sentencing occurred yesterday, following Mullins' admission of guilt for the assaults taking place in Lithonia on June 4, 2019, and Stone Mountain on December 3, 2020.
In the 2019 Lithonia assault, the investigation revealed a 29-year-old woman had been woken from her sleep on her couch by a man assaulting her and threatening her with a firearm. Despite not having any money to give when demanded, she was subjected to oral sodomy and rape, clarified DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. Post-assault, the victim's call to police and sexual assault examination provided DNA evidence that at the time had no database match, leaving the case pending for a resolution.
Mullins' guilty plea also encompassed the 2020 Stone Mountain incident, where the second victim, a 34-year-old woman, experienced an eerily similar nightmare. Awakened by a gun-pointing intruder, she too was forced into sexual acts and robbed. As the assailant fled with her debit card and other belongings, police investigations later traced the use of the stolen card across three different locations, withdrawing around $1,000 in total. The crucial evidence came from surveillance video at one of the ATMs, where a bulge on the man's ankle led to the shocking discovery of an ankle monitor.
The ankle monitor, Mullins was required to wear while out on bond for another unrelated offense, placed him near the scene of the crimes. Moreover, DNA evidence collected during the investigation of the 2020 assault linked Mullins to both cases through a match in CODIS, according to details from DeKalb County District Attorney's press release. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Brian Lake subsequently sentenced Mullins to nine life sentences to run concurrently, ending a harrowing chapter for the victims and their families.
The prosecution of the case was led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sean Johnston and Paige Boorman, with investigative support from Andre Williams and victim advocacy from Ashley King. DeKalb County Police Department Detectives Chrissa Lynch and Sanders, now DA’s Office Investigators, were commended for their roles in unraveling this complex case.
