East Coast Rapist

The East Coast Rapist is a criminal who has committed a number of rapes in Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island since 1997. Police had DNA evidence from the first attacks, but had not matched the DNA in any criminal database. On March 4, 2011, police in Connecticut arrested 39-year-old trucker and New Haven resident Aaron H. Thomas after claiming to have matched his DNA to that of the rapist from a cigarette butt he discarded. Thomas underwent police questioning.[1][2] On March 5, 2011, jailers reported that Thomas attempted to hang himself while in a jail cell.[3]

The rapist's modus operandi was to trail the women he selected as victims to learn about their personal lives and then attack them under cover of night. He usually approached the victim in an open area, talked to her briefly, and then forced her into a more secluded area to rape her. He used handguns, knives, a screwdriver, and a broken bottle as weapons during the attacks. On four occasions, he attacked more than one victim in the same incident.

On March 1, 2013, Thomas was sentenced to three life terms in prison plus an additional 80 years for his Halloween 2009 attack on three teenaged trick-or-treaters in Prince William County, Virginia,[4] having pleaded guilty to said attack in November 2012.[5] Later in March 2013, Thomas was sentenced to two additional life terms for a May 2001 rape and abduction at a Leesburg apartment complex,[6][7] having pleaded guilty to said attack in November 2012.[8] Later in March 2013, Thomas was indicted on six counts of first-degree rape and multiple related charges in Prince George's County, Maryland, and, as of March 26, 2013, faced a total of 54 charges in said county.[9]

In June 2015, Thomas pleaded guilty to three rapes that took place in Prince George's County, Maryland, between 1997 and 2001 and received three more life terms that are to be served concurrently with time being served in Virginia.[10][11][12] Prosecutors also dropped charges against Thomas in three cases because of a lack of evidence.[10][11]

Crimes
Date and Time Victim's Race and Age Location Weapon Notes
January 5, 1997; 5:00 am Black female; age 34 Forestville, MD Handgun No DNA evidence
February 19, 1997; 12:46 am Black female; age 25 Forestville, MD Handgun DNA obtained
March 6, 1997; 4:00 am Black female; age 27 Forestville, MD Handgun Two blocks from first attack; no DNA evidence
August 20, 1997; 12:45 am Black female; age 18 Suitland, MD Knife DNA obtained
July 3, 1998; 11:00 pm Black females; ages 16 and 18 Temple Hills, MD Broken bottle Only younger victim raped; DNA obtained
June 19, 1999; 11:17 pm Black female; age 19 Hybla Valley, VA Knife DNA obtained
January 13, 2000; 7:30 pm Black female; age 18 Hybla Valley, VA Knife DNA obtained
November 20, 2000; 6:00 pm White female; age 35 Alexandria, VA Knife Victim fought back and was not raped; DNA obtained
May 24, 2001; 7:45 pm White female; age 41 Leesburg, VA Screwdriver Victim was bound; DNA obtained
August 16, 2001; 10:00 pm Black females; ages 18 and 19 Temple Hills, MD Handgun Both victims raped; DNA obtained
December 28, 2001; 7:30 pm Black female; age 29 Hybla Valley, VA Knife Last rape for five years; DNA obtained
January 28, 2006; 2:21 am Black female; age 46 New Haven, CT None Feces left behind; no DNA evidence
February 20, 2006; 3:45 am Black female; age 17 New Haven, CT None Condom used; no DNA evidence
November 28, 2006; 5:22 pm White females; ages 11 and 39 Cranston, RI None Dog scared rapist away before rape; feces left behind; DNA obtained
January 10, 2007; 1:21 am Mixed-race female; age 27 New Haven, CT None DNA obtained
January 21, 2007; 6:10 am Black female; age 33 New Haven, CT None Victim fought back and was not raped; no DNA evidence
October 31, 2009; 9:11 pm Black females; ages 16, 17, and 17 Dale City, VA Handgun Youngest victim called police; rapist fled after attacking older victims; DNA obtained

References
  1. White, Josh; Glod, Maria (March 4, 2011). "Tip yields arrest in East Coast Rapist case". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  2. Baker, Al (March 5, 2011). "Suspect in East Coast Rapes Is Arrested". The New York Times.
  3. "'East Coast Rapist' suspect tries to hang himself, police say". CNN. March 6, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  4. White, Josh (March 2, 2013). "East Coast Rapist sentenced to life in prison for 2009 attack on teenaged trick-or-treaters". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  5. White, Josh (November 30, 2012). "East Coast Rapist pleads guilty to Halloween attacks in Prince William". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  6. "'East Coast Rapist' Sentenced to Two Additional Life Terms". NBC Washington. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. White, Josh (March 15, 2013). "Aaron Thomas sentenced to life terms for 2001 East Coast Rapist attack in Loudoun". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  8. White, Josh (November 29, 2012). "East Coast Rapist enters guilty pleas". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  9. "'East Coast Rapist' Indicted on 54 Counts in Prince George's County". NBC Washingotn. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  10. Stabley, Matthew (June 8, 2015). "East Coast Rapist Pleads Guilty to Three Charges in Prince George's County". NBC Washington. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  11. Bui, Lynh (June 8, 2015). "East Coast Rapist pleads guilty in three Prince George's County attacks". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. "Man in East Coast rapes pleads guilty to Maryland crimes". Chicago Tribune. June 8, 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
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