Recovered Cell Leads CPD To Potential Serial-Rape Suspect

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Six months after the first rape was reported, a search warrant was the first to name a potential suspect in the North-West serial rapist investigation.

FIRST ON 4: It's a story NBC 4 has been following for months, and NBC 4's Lauren Diedrich had an update Monday.

Police said a male has raped or molested seven women all on the West, North or Northwest sides of Central Ohio since June 4.

Police have been investigating a local man as a potential suspect NBC 4 learned Sunday night.

It started with a stolen cell phone, according to CPD. The recovered phone led detectives to the man who is listed as a registered sex offender, CPD said.
The cell was stolen from a woman's home in October.

The warrant said the woman and family members called her phone and an unknown man answered the cell. The two began to argue.

The warrant also said the male made comments "to the effect that he could have raped her while she was sleeping and then described the inside of her apartment and the people that were sleeping there the night before."

The woman persuaded the male to return the phone, and he dropped it off at a bus stop near the North Market outside of Downtown.

The woman's cell bill showed phone numbers that were called during the time it was stolen.

One of those numbers led police to Delbert Avenue, which was an address connected to a rape victim.

Another number was traced back to the potential suspect. He's a 50-year-old career criminal with rape, robbery and burglary convictions. He also matched the description in connection with the rapes, according to court records.

In fact, the potential suspect remains in police custody for an unrelated robbery he's accused of committing at a Westerville Tan Pro.

The suspect's name wasn't released because he hasn't been charged with the rapes.

Police said he's one of several suspects in the rape cases.

The Columbus Division of Police held a media briefing at 2 p.m. Monday. CPD Sergeant Rich Weiner said detectives continued to follow other suspects, as well.

"I want to stress to everyone: This is a potential suspect. We are not halting the investigation, and we are not solely looking at this individual," Weiner said at the Monday afternoon press conference.

According to police, five of the victims were in their early 20s, while the other two victims were 46 and 30 years old.

He has attacked single women or women who are alone at night and generally has struck while his victims are asleep or in bed.

He struck once in June, once in September, four times in October and once in November. Two of the October attacks occurred on consecutive days.

BACKSTORY:
Dec. 9: Police: Leads In Serial Rapist Cases Dwindling
Dec. 3: Police Eliminate Suspects In Serial Rapist Cases
Nov. 18: Police Continue To Investigate Tips About Serial Rapist
Nov. 14: No. Of Serial Rapes Still At 7
Nov. 12: Serial-Rapist Attacks Heighten Safety Concerns
Nov. 12: Worry Turns Into Panic After 7th Attack
Nov. 11: CPD: 7th Sexual Assault Tied To Serial Rapist
Oct. 31: FBI Profiler Works On Serial Rapist Case

Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest information in this developing story.
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