NCU lecturer Russell McLean being held in Florida’s Broward County Jail on 16 counts, including sexual assault

Professor at the University of the Northern Caribbean Russell McLean

Jamaican college professor Russell McLean, who was extradited to the United States on Thursday, is being held in Broward County Jail in Florida on 16 counts, including sexual assault, burglary and kidnapping .

McLean was a lecturer at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville for 18½ years. He was based in the College of Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences at the private university run by Seventh-day Adventists.

He waived his right to an extradition hearing when he appeared in court in May.

McLean, 65, was located while an NCU faculty member and arrested with the help of US Marshals in the long cold case.

In Florida, Margate police say an investigation resumed after several sexual assaults and attempted assaults between June 1996 and November 1997, where the suspect broke into homes and threatened the victims with a gun. fire before attacking them.

According to Florida media, in 2007, evidence in a burglary case led to the identification of McLean as a person of interest. During the investigation, McLean fled to Jamaica, officials said.

In 2018, DNA evidence was obtained and compared to rape kits taken from the incidents in the 1990s. He matched McLean and an arrest warrant was issued in August 2020.

Investigators believe there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to contact Margate Police at 954-972-7111.