‘This person is a serial rapist’: 2002 victim speaks out after Calgary cold case cracked

ABOVE WATCH: Three days after Global News learned of an arrest in a 20-year-old sexual assault cold case, another victim of the repeat offender is sharing her story for the first time.

CALGARY – Three days after Global News learned of an arrest in a 20-year-old sexual assault cold case, another victim of the repeat offender is sharing her story for the first time.

Charles Desjarlais—known as “Charlie”—was arrested in Lethbridge on Aug. 15, accused of sexual assault with a weapon against a 16-year-old girl in Calgary that dates back to 1995.

READ MORE: Police use DNA to crack 20-year-old Calgary sex assault

Another victim, “Lisa” (not her real name), was just a child when she says she was abused by Desjarlais. He was a friend of her family, and for years, she says was victimized by his sexual attacks.

“I still constantly even think about suicide,” she said. “There’s an overwhelming urge of no self worth. It’s something I struggle with every single day.”

When Lisa saw Desjarlais back in the news last week, she says memories came flooding back.

“When I saw the article, it said it was DNA and they were able to match him to that from a case in 2002, and I realized that was mine.”

Desjarlais, 52, has a violent criminal past; he was in and out of jail for most of his life with convictions dating back to his youth. While in jail for sexual interference in 2002, DNA linked him to a 1994 rape when he attacked another stranger in a Calgary park.

If convicted, the latest charge in this cold case could put him behind bars indefinitely should the Crown seek dangerous offender status in sentencing. Lisa hopes he will be locked up indefinitely.

“He cannot be allowed to be walking the street,” she said. “If that was your daughter, your son walking home and that happened, how would you feel?

“This person does not deserve a life at all…Although me and the other victims are still breathing, he has killed our souls, and we’re never going to get over that.”

Desjarlais remains in custody and is set to appear in court on Wednesday.

Sgt. Bev Voros said Monday no new victims have come forward with information about Desjarlais as of yet.

Watch below: Staff Sgt. Bev Voros of the Calgary Police Service Sex Crimes Unit answers questions about the changes laid in a 1995 sexual assault.

“We don’t have any information there are any new victims, but if there are that we haven’t heard of, we strongly encourage them to come forward and talk to us,” she said. Anyone with information can call police at the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.

Lisa fears there are other victims who either haven’t come forward, or their cases have gone cold.

“This person is a serial rapist, and he’s never going to stop,” she said.