Dateline: A complete timeline of John Regan’s crimes and arrest, explored

Dateline has covered John Regan, a suspect in a series of decades-long r*pe cases. Dateline's report shows how police supplemented millennia of detective investigation with modern forensic science. Cold case investigations and DNA made Regan accountable for dozens of attacks, including the much-publicized Donna Palomba case in Waterbury, Connecticut.

The case shows how cold cases from centuries ago are solved and cracked by continued investigation, as well as through advancing science.

Here is a complete timeline of John Regan’s crimes and arrest as shown on Dateline

Early 1990s – Attack on Donna Palomba

In the early 1990s, Donna Palomba, a Waterbury, Connecticut, resident, was assaulted by John Regan. At the time, police were unable to find a suspect, and the case went cold due to the lack of advanced forensic technology.

Dateline stories and the Waterbury Observer reports explain how this initial attack set the stage for linking Regan to additional crimes in the future. The case was unsolved for years despite police work and public appeals.

1993 – More assaults and news

Other 1993 attacks were later attributed to John Regan. Investigation officers collected evidence and statements, but these cases did not lead to the identification of a suspect at that time.

Dateline explains that these additional attacks demonstrated the type of action that would later become the basis for law enforcement to connect Regan to numerous crimes as forensic technology improved. Persistent detectives ensured these cases were kept under reserve to be reviewed in the future.

2005 – Saratoga Springs, NY arrest

John Regan was arrested in 2005 in Saratoga Springs, New York, for attempting to kidnap someone. The police had not associated him with the earlier attacks, including that on Donna Palomba, prior to that.

Dateline and Times Union sources state that although he was held accountable for this crime, the connection to the cases dating back decades "fell through the cracks" until cold case examinations were conducted years later.

2010s – Cold case review commenced

During the 2010s, the police began methodically reviewing cold cases that were related to John Regan. With this, old evidence was re-examined, and new, current forensic techniques were employed, particularly DNA analysis.

Dateline reports the review was also a key factor in identifying Regan as the perpetrator of numerous attacks, converting otherwise cold cases into active investigations. The work also included cross-matching witness testimony and historical documents.

2020s – DNA evidence identifies numerous assaults

During the 2020s, DNA testing clearly implicated John Regan in several decades-long s*xual assaults, among them was the assault on Donna Palomba. Dateline reports indicate that putting forensic evidence together with past investigative efforts made a clear link, finally putting an end to the cases that remained cold for decades.

Law enforcement officials said the scientific advancement enabled them to move forward with official charges against Regan.

2025 – Detention and court proceedings

Following DNA confirmation, John Regan was detained in 2025 and formally charged with multiple s*xual attacks. Dateline coverage shows that his arrest was uneventful, and legal proceedings continue.

Some of the information remains under wraps due to the sensitivities of the cases. Identification and arrest also provided survivors an opportunity to interact with the justice system and share what happened to them, bringing closure after all these years.

Impact on victims and the community

Closing the cases opened up survivors who had waited decades to no avail. Dateline reporting says that being able to name and arrest Regan allowed victims to be included in the justice system and talk about what occurred. Officials said reopening cold cases can be colossal in holding people accountable and providing closure.

Public outrage justified the merit of survivor support and police commitment to crack previously cold cases. The case also indicates popular interest in cold cases and the use of forensic advances.

Lessons and significance

The John Regan case proves the significance of preserving evidence, re-opening cold cases, and applying modern forensic science. This coverage shows that crimes committed decades ago can be solved through persistent research and DNA testing.

The case proves that old evidence can be utilized in criminal cases today to put criminals behind bars.

Therefore, Dateline's profile of John Regan is a comprehensive report of his crimes and apprehension, with the focus of placing emphasis on the importance of detective doggedness and forensic science. The case illustrates the way persistent police work, supplemented by advanced scientific methods, can crack tough criminal cases and bring light to victims.