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Returning to California LaRue purchased a new house under the name of an LLC. An LLC business entity provides limited liability protection. And it was an attempt to shield the actress's identity.

But the stalker’s letters soon began showing up at the new address.

LaRue and her daughter “drove circuitous routes home, slept with weapons nearby and had discussions about how to seek help quickly if [Rogers] found them and tried to harm them,” 

DNA match identifies stalker

Genetic genealogy was used to find Rogers. Due to new developments in DNA science the FBI was able to ultimately make a DNA match to identify and arrest the stalker in 2019. 

Former FBI special agent Stephen Busch and former FBI attorney Steve Kramer explained how DNA from the envelopes of the abusive letters led to the suspect's capture.

DNA was run through a series of databases including 23andMe, Ancestry and GEDmatch. And using genetic genealogy authorities identify relatives of the person who have submitted their DNA for testing. Then researchers build out family trees. And narrow down the list of suspects through more traditional detective work.

This eventually led the FBI to a small town in Ohio where Rogers was the prime suspect. Agents traveled to the area and began surveillance. They were looking for an opportunity to get his DNA to confirm their suspect was the letter writer.

After work as a nurse’s assistant Rogers ate at an Arby’s. And the FBI were able to extract his DNA from a discarded straw.

He was arrested the next day in November 2019. And last week's conviction is the first-time genetic genealogy has solved a federal case.

Stalker sentenced 

Rogers was sentenced last week in the U.S. District Court for Central California. He received a 40-month prison sentence from Judge John A. Kronstadt. After he is released, he will serve three years of supervised probation.

At his sentencing through a video link from Ohio, Rogers said he is receiving mental health treatment. And apologized claiming to accept “full responsibility.’

“I forgive you, but I cannot forget,” LaRue told her stalker at the sentencing, “The fear is with me forever.”

In her victim impact statement thanked him for his apology but told the judge, “I am so worried what will happen when he gets out.”

“We have had years of this,” she added. “This is beyond deviant behavior.”