Man charged in 2009 Tacoma rape already in prison for Yakima murder

A man charged with raping a woman in Tacoma seven years ago is serving a life sentence for raping and killing a woman in Yakima.

Aaron Briden, 27, was charged Tuesday with first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping for the May 6, 2009, rape in Tacoma after DNA linked him to the crime. He has not yet been arraigned.

The victim told police she was walking on Sixth Avenue in the rain when two men pulled over and offered her a ride. She accepted and slid into the backseat.

They then pulled into an alley and both men sexually assaulted her for three hours before driving her to Hilltop and forcing her out of the car, according to charging papers.

The victim sought help at a nearby church.

Police obtained the victim’s rape kit from the hospital but were unable to follow up with her because she was homeless and couldn’t be located.

DNA test results came back in 2014 linking Briden to the rape.

Detectives interviewed him in prison and Briden allegedly said he couldn’t remember the woman, the assault or the man he was driving around with.

Briden was sentenced in 2012 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2009 death of Shelley Kinter, 42, in Yakima. He sexually assaulted, robbed and beat Kinter before fatally running her over with a stolen car.

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Man charged in 2009 Tacoma rape already in prison for Yakima murder."