Man charged in 1990 rape appears in court

WAUPACA - A man accused of more than 20 year old rape case in Iola made his first appearance in Waupaca County Court today.

Authorities say DNA evidence reviewed in 2011 linked Glendon Gouker to the crime.

Gouker was already in an Oklahoma jail, and could be connected to an unsolved double murder in Wisconsin.

It's was the moment Rick Togstad has been waiting years to see.

"I came to this one just because I wanted to see what type of evil person could do something like this," Togstad.

Glendon Gouker made his first court appearance in Waupaca County court for an alleged rape in Iola in 1990. The Waupaca County Sheriff's Department says Gouker is a person of interest in the murders of Togstad's sister Tanna and her boyfriend Tim Mumbrue in this home near Weyauwega in 1992.

"Nobody said it's him, hopefully it leads to whoever it is if it's not him. I don't know, hopefully this guy has information, maybe someone else has information," said Togstad.

Gouker's court appearance was brief and he did not speak. The judge denied Gouker bond in the case based on the severity of the charges. The judge also barred attorneys from disclosing where Gouker is being kept while he is in the state.

Gouker is currently awaiting trial on murder, rape and kidnapping charges in Oklahoma.

Sheriff Brad Hardel says since charges against Gouker were announced Monday, his office has received numerous tips that investigators are following up on.

Hardel says the victim in this case is doing well these days and while she was not in court today, he says she's pleased her case may soon be solved.

Gouker is scheduled to be back in Waupaca County court for a preliminary hearing next week Friday.