2 men sentenced in cold-case rapes in Ohio

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities in northeast Ohio say two more suspects linked to cold-case rape cases by DNA processing recently have been given long prison sentences.

The Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office announced the sentences of Darnell Whitfield and William Echols on Monday.

The 44-year-old Whitfield pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to raping women in 1997, 1998 and 2001. He was sentenced last week to 24 years in prison. In each case, prosecutors say, Whitfield grabbed the women off the street and then raped and robbed them.

The 47-year-old Echols was found guilty by a jury in October of rape and kidnapping in attacks in 1994 and 1999. He was sentenced last week to 41 years in prison. Prosecutors say he threatened one victim with a knife and beat the other with a brick.