After more than 30 years, justice has been served in Taney County, Missouri. Tony Wagner has been convicted of Forcible Rape: Aggravated and two counts of First-Degree Assault, according to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. The case, once cold and unresolved, was brought to a conclusion through the persistent efforts of law enforcement and the use of genetic genealogy testing. According to a statement from the Attorney General's office , "This conviction is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors who never gave up on seeking justice for these victims."

The crimes date back to the summer of 1992 when two young women, tourists from Texas, were subjected to a brutal attack during a hike in Henning State Conservation Area. The perpetrator struck them with an rock, and one of the women was forcibly raped. The assailant remained a mystery, despite the victims' appearance on "America's Most Wanted" and an exhaustive investigation. According to the Attorney General's office , it wasn't until forensic evidence from 1992 underwent genetic genealogy testing that the breakthrough arrived, leading the Missouri State Highway Patrol to zero in on Wagner and confirm his involvement through DNA evidence.

The cold case warmed up in August 2022 when Wagner became a prime suspect. Investigators monitored Wagner, obtained his discarded DNA, and the lab confirmed a match to the decades-old sexual assault kit. The jury needed roughly 90 minutes to deliberate before handing down a guilty verdict. Wagner's sentencing is anticipated to take place on July 11.