DNA leads authorities to suspect for 2011 attack, rape in East Boston that left woman with permanent brain injuries

A man in prison for a 2012 stabbing in Marshfield was arraigned today for a brutal attack in a Jeffries Point vacant lot the year before that left his victim near death with permanent brain injuries.

Thomas Craddock, 26, was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court this morning on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault and battery and armed assault with intent to murder.

[Assistant Suffolk County DA Tara] Burdman told the court that on the morning of Sept. 21, 2011, Boston Police were called to a vacant lot near Webster Street in East Boston after a 28-year-old woman was found badly beaten and naked but for a sock on one foot. The victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was treated for numerous injuries to her head, face, and body, including a skull fracture and intracranial cerebral swelling that required part of her skull to be removed. She suffers from a traumatic brain injury from the attack.

At the time of the attack, Craddock lived near the vacant lot, but did not know his victim, the DA's office says.

An examination performed at the hospital revealed that the woman had been sexually assaulted in the attack, prosecutors said. DNA collected during the exam was entered into the FBI’s Combine DNA Index System.

In December, the DNA recovered from the assault was matched to a DNA sample Cradock was ordered to provide as a result of his felony convictions in Plymouth County.

Innocent, etc.