A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against 66-year-old Frederick Louis Tanzer, a former Kansas doctor, whose DNA connected him to a 1989 rape case in Ohio. Tanzer, now residing in Ohio, is accused of making false statements to federal investigators regarding the crime and is charged with four counts of lying to officers and two counts of using false documents. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
The case began when federal agents used DNA evidence collected from a Starbucks cup discarded by Tanzer at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) in Ohio. This DNA matched that of the rapist from a violent assault on August 1, 1989, in Cincinnati. The victim was attacked for five and a half hours, during which the rapist left a note warning her not to contact the police.
Tanzer, a medical doctor who has practiced in Ohio, Kansas, and Colorado, was first licensed in Kansas in 2015. Investigators believe there may be additional victims in Kansas, with reports of drugging and rape over the past few years. Authorities also discovered disturbing items during a search of Tanzer’s home, including restraints and zip ties.
Federal officials encourage anyone with relevant information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.