Police say men were targets of rape spree

Dec. 16, 2006, 2:51PM
Police say men were targets of rape spree
Authorities say nothing suggests assaults will end anytime soon


For more information on male sexual assault victims go to the Web site of An Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection, http://www.aardvarc.org/
The serial rapist-robber began his attacks in east Harris County in April and his assaults have occurred every 30 to 60 days.

But what makes this case so unusual is that women are not the target. So far the five victims have all been young, white males in their late teens or early 20s, mostly students still living at their parents' homes.

The attacker is described as a light-skinned black male, clean-cut and nicely dressed, in his late 20s. He stands 5-foot-6 to 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

Investigators have released a composite sketch, based on victims' recollections, and are working with the FBI to develop a profile to determine whether the crimes are racially motivated or what other forces might be driving them.

Investigators also hope the profile paints a picture of the lifestyle of the attacker who has cleverly eluded them.

"I've never seen attacks on males like this in the four years I've worked here," said Harris County Sheriff's Sgt. Bryan Pair.

Baytown Police Captain Roger Clifford agreed, "It's not a typical thing. We've never had something like this in Baytown. But it's no difference whether the victim is male or female, the attacker still has assaultive, dominating needs that he is trying to fulfill."

Investigators warn men who might fit the victims' profile to be watchful and aware of their surroundings.

"Nothing has happened that would suggest the attacks will stop," Clifford said.

The most recent assault occurred on Nov. 30 in Baytown's Tanglewilde subdivision, and investigators are worried about when the next one will be. The four other attacks occurred in April, May, July and September in the Lakewood and Chaparral Village subdivisions in Baytown and in the Highlands area of east Harris County.

Investigators, who would not be more specific on the dates and places, are concerned that there may be other victims who have not come forward because of the embarrassment or attack on their masculinity. But Clifford stresses their identities will be kept confidential.

"We need everyone's help," he said.

Investigators first realized they were dealing with a serial offender when they noticed strong similarities in the cases that went beyond the attacker's description.

"He was always armed with a handgun and using the same terminology," Clifford said.

Victims were always accosted at their parents' homes. Sometimes he confronted them in the driveway or yard and then usually forced them to go inside. Sometimes he would simply surprise them by breaking into the homes.

"He always caught them when they were alone," Clifford said.

The attacker would demand money, but seemed more interested in sex, investigators said.

While he tried to force every victim into sexual contact, some managed to thwart him and run away.

But violence was sometimes used in an effort to gain compliance, such as with one uncooperative victim who was pistol-whipped, Pair said.

The attacker uses his gun to gain control and sometimes uses a knife to prod a victim to go where the attacker wants, investigators said.

They believe he carefully selects, then stalks each victim.

"He does his homework and has everything well planned out," Clifford said. "Most of the time victims are totally unaware that this guy was anywhere around."

In the first assault the attacker wore a mask, but he has not worn any disguises since, investigators said.

The attacker vanishes as quickly as he appears, taking with him any valuables that he can find — from cash and ATM cards to laptop computers and jewelry.

With each attack, investigators get a few clues such as DNA and footprints. But to date, they have not been able to match them to any individual.

The attacker also may have been driving a blue or silver sport utility vehicle, reports say.

About 3 percent of American men have been victims of sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault, according to a 1998 study cited on the National Sexual Assault Hotline Web site. One in 10 rape victims are male, according to the Web site, citing the National Crime Victimization study of 2003.

Many studies say the number of male rape victims is probably widely underreported.

Clifford asks anyone with information to contact Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.