Washington Co. sheriff: Lab test connects nursing home employee to 2016 rape case

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is searching for a former Life Care Center of Gray employee who allegedly raped a resident in October.

Based on results from a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab analysis, Sheriff Ed Graybeal issued an aggravated rape arrest warrant for Lorenzo Barr Kamanda, 36, formerly of 1702 Nathaniel Drive, Building 115, Apt. 24, on Tuesday.

Graybeal said Kamanda no longer lives at that address and his whereabouts are unknown.

Anyone with information on Kamanda's whereabouts is asked to call Investigator Nicki Salyer at the Sheriff's Office at 423-788-1414.

In 2012, Kamanda was charged with a similar crime in Unicoi County while he was employed by Dawn of Hope Developmental Center in Johnson City.

The victim and Kamanda had been sent to a Unicoi County to help care for a disabled patient. While they were at work, Kamanda tried to force himself on her sexually and masturbated in front of her, she told investigators at the time.

Kamanda was charged with sexual battery and suspended from Dawn of Hope.

The Unicoi County Court Clerk's Office had no record of the 2012 case or its disposition on file Tuesday.