DANIA BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A 2013 attempted sexual battery case from Dania Beach has led to an arrest more than a decade later, after BSO’s Special Victims Unit used updated DNA testing and a CODIS hit to identify a suspect.
BSO said the case dates back to Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, when Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of an attempted sexual battery. Investigators said the incident happened the day before during an event called Igloo South Florida near the 2600 block of Southwest 31st Street in Dania Beach.
Investigators met with the victim, who told deputies she attended the event and became incapacitated, BSO said. The victim reported waking up in an unknown vehicle with two unknown male subjects. She told investigators her pants had been pulled down. BSO said one of the subjects left DNA evidence behind on the victim.
BSO said the case was investigated for years but did not develop significant leads and eventually turned cold.
In November 2025, BSO said its Special Victims Unit was assigned to the case. Investigators used advances in DNA testing and obtained a hit in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) using the DNA sample, BSO said. The testing identified the subject as Jose Bello, according to investigators.
BSO said investigators met again with the victim and presented a photo array. The victim identified Bello as familiar to her, even 13 years later, BSO said.
Detectives then worked to locate Bello in Hall County, Georgia, according to BSO. BSO detectives coordinated with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office to obtain a DNA warrant for Bello.
BSO said SVU detectives traveled to Hall County to interview Bello. He was served the DNA warrant and a sample was obtained, BSO said. That sample was submitted to BSO’s Crime Lab for analysis. The results confirmed the initial testing, and BSO said the DNA found on the victim belonged to Bello.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Bello was arrested and will face a charge of attempted sexual battery to an incapacitated victim, BSO said. He is expected to be extradited to Broward County.
For residents in Boca Raton and across Palm Beach County, the case is a reminder that South Florida agencies continue to work older investigations when new forensic tools become available. In this case, BSO said the break came through DNA testing and a CODIS match, followed by coordination with an out-of-state sheriff’s office to secure a DNA warrant and confirm the results through BSO’s Crime Lab.
BSO is the investigating agency and the case will proceed in Broward County once extradition is completed. Residents should watch for updates tied to the extradition process and the next steps in Broward County court.
