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scottobearJust got this in a letter -
In April you helped us on a case involving a serial rapist in Columbus, Ohio and Pomona, California. I am happy to tell you that we arrested him last week. We had 11 rapes that were related by DNA matches and 12 that were related by MO. Last Monday, through DNA, we finally got a name. The SWAT Team spent the day looking for him and arrested him after a short foot chase.
My Deputy Chief held a live news conference to notify the community and to thank all involved. I know you probably didn't hear it but, he thanked you and your company for your great cooperation.
I would also like to thank you for your support. Through the cooperation of police and the community a very dangerous man is behind bars for the rest of his life. He has admitted to almost 60 rapes. Some of which the police were not aware had occurred. He has also admitted to hundreds of burglaries.
Thanks a million for your help.
Sincerely,
Lt. David R. Wood
Columbus, Ohio Division of Police
SWAT Section
Good... I'm glad they finally caught the guy. I hope that if he's guilty (and it surely seems that he is) that they nail him as hard as the law will permit.
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Nice Work
Date: 2004-06-18 05:49 pm (UTC)and thankyou for helping to take (alleged)pyscho freaks like that off of the streets.
Re: Nice Work
Date: 2004-06-18 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:01 pm (UTC)Robert Patton, Jr., was suspected in a total of 22 rapes committed in the central Ohio city's Linden neighborhood between 1991 and 2002, police said.
The "Linden rapist" broke into homes at night and assaulted his victims.
Another rape, committed in California in 1995, showed the same DNA profile as that of the attacker.
Patton had a history of burglary and theft convictions, police said.
Patton fled police when approached at a suburban grocery store, but was apprehended after a short chase.
Accused Linden Rapist Charged With 71 Rapes
Date: 2004-06-18 06:03 pm (UTC)Patton Helped Police Find Alleged Rape Locations
POSTED: 10:40 am EDT June 17, 2004
UPDATED: 7:26 pm EDT June 17, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Suspected Linden-area serial rapist Robert Patton Jr. was indicted Thursday on more than 100 criminal charges, NewsChannel 4 reported.
Robert N. Patton Jr. (pictured, left) was arrested on June 7 outside a fast-food restaurant in Whitehall.
Patton was indicted Thursday on a total of 135 counts, including 71 rape charges. Thirty-seven victims were identified, and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said some women were raped multiple times. Patton also was indicted on 64 aggravated burglary and robbery charges for allegedly breaking into women's homes.
Patton was initially charged with one count of rape, NewsChannel 4's Nancy Burton reported.
After Patton was arrested and jailed, police did something unusual, Burton reported. O'Brien said he signed an order that allowed Patton out of jail for nine hours. NewsChannel 4 learned that Patton actually pointed out to police places where he allegedly raped area women. That's why the number of rape victims increased in the last nine days, Burton reported.
He was originally suspected in 11 rapes.
"He did not remain in lockout," O'Brien said. "He was in the custody of Detective Weeks, and he drove around in a cruiser or an unmarked vehicle. ... It was no small task to go from 11 to 37."
Patton allegedly raped many women outside of the Linden area, Burton reported.
Diana Cunningham said she was the last woman Patton allegedly raped. It happened the day before Patton was arrested.
"He told me if I opened my eyes, he would slit my throat," Cunningham said. "I wake up with this guy diving on top of me with his hands around my throat. When I realized he was going to rape me, it was just rage and disgust mixed with terror."
Cunningham (pictured, left) said she tried to be nice to her attacker by joking and talking with him.
"I was just trying to keep myself alive," she said. "It was self preservation."
Cunningham said her attacker raped her for two hours and then made her take a shower.
"He came back to make sure I cleaned myself up," she said.
Then, she said, her attacker left.
Police showed Cunningham a picture of Patton the day after he was arrested.
"As soon as I saw the picture, I said that's the guy," she said.
Twenty-two of the alleged rapes occurred in the Linden area, but 15 rapes happened elsewhere in Franklin County, including eight in the Ohio State University area. But police said there also were attacks in the Short North, east and west Columbus, and even Grove City.
The indictment also revealed that Patton's alleged crime spree was longer than 13 years. The first victim said she was raped in 1987. That woman filed a police report. When the woman saw Patton's picture after he was arrested last week, she said she was able to positively identify him as her attacker.
Police said the majority of the Linden rapist's attacks occurred within or near a specific area defined as Oakland Park Avenue on the north, East Weber Road on the south, Joyce Avenue on the east and Interstate 71 on the west.
SLIDESHOW: Linden Suspect Arrest
Investigators said the first phase of rapes occurred from December 1991 to January 1993 in the Linden area. After a short break, the rapes resumed from October 1994 to February 1995.
On Feb. 25, 1995, the suspect was linked through DNA to a sexual attack and assault on a woman inside her home in Pomona, Calif., Burton reported Police said DNA was recovered after the suspect suffered a severe laceration on his arm while exiting the residence by jumping from a second-floor balcony.
Investigators said the DNA evidence was connected to Patton, who was required by law to submit a DNA sample before being released from prison in November 2001. He was serving time for burglary, Burton reported.
The FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) finally made the alleged match three years after Patton's sample was taken. The lengthy wait was due to funding problems, officials said.
CODIS enables federal, state and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:32 pm (UTC)I'm glad I could help!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:31 pm (UTC)Monster would be an understatement.
I much prefer the zombies
no subject
Date: 2004-06-19 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-19 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-19 02:23 am (UTC)