NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Rutherford County resident has been identified as the central figure in what Metro Nashville Police are calling a “relentless 5-year investigation.” The probe, led by Detective Kevin Wiles of the Special Victims Division, culminated in the arrest and indictment of 60-year-old Garrick Oden of La Vergne, a man now accused of multiple sexual assaults that left investigators searching for answers for more than a decade.
Breakthrough After Years of Investigative Work – According to Metro Police, Oden was linked to at least four reported sexual assaults that occurred between 2012 and 2018. In each case, Oden allegedly offered women rides under the guise of helping them, only to drive them to secluded areas where he sexually assaulted them.
Because the victims did not know their attacker, detectives relied heavily on DNA evidence collected at the scenes. That forensic evidence proved crucial in connecting the assaults and ultimately identifying Oden as the suspect. The charges highlight both the persistence of investigators and the importance of modern forensic tools in bringing long-delayed justice…