Cincinnati Doctor Pleads Guilty to Lying to Investigators in 1989 Cold Case Rape
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati-area doctor has pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements to federal agents and a Cincinnati Police Department detective regarding a 1989 rape, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Dr. Michael Tanzer, 61, admitted to lying about his interactions with the victim on the day of the assault.
The guilty plea marks a meaningful progress in a decades-old case that was reopened through DNA evidence. While the statute of limitations has expired for the original rape charge, Tanzer faces up to five years in prison for each count of making false statements. The case highlights the evolving use of forensic technology to revisit cold cases and the potential for accountability even decades after a crime occurs.
According to court documents, Tanzer was identified as a suspect in the 1989 rape after investigators matched his DNA, recovered from a discarded coffee cup, to evidence found at the crime scene. The victim reported being attacked in her home, where she was held at knifepoint, blindfolded, and repeatedly raped.
A search of Tanzer’s home revealed items including cable zip ties, restraints, a gag, and a black hat, further fueling investigators’ suspicions. During questioning, authorities say Tanzer denied any knowlege of or interaction with the woman on the day of the attack.
Federal prosecutors previously argued in a motion for pretrial detention that Tanzer likely “continued his pattern of sexual violence” against women throughout his career as a physician, practicing in Ohio, Kansas, and Colorado.The FBI has publicly appealed for additional potential victims to come forward.
Tanzer remains in custody pending sentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not yet announced a sentencing date.
