Maryland county sheriff renews efforts to solve serial rape cold case
Maryland detectives are once again on the hunt to identify a man who they believe targeted women over 25 years ago by offering them a ride under false pretenses and allegedly attempting or successfully raping them. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office has reopened a cold case into an alleged serial rapist who, between November 1996 and August 2003, preyed on women in Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County, Maryland before driving them to Charles County where he would physically attack and sexually assault them.
The suspect, described as a Black man believed to be in his late 30s to early 50s at the time of the crimes, is now likely in his 50s to 70s. He went by the names Jerry, Jimmy, George, and James and had a stocky build, prominent overbite, and a short-cropped haircut. Investigators also noted that the suspect had access to multiple vehicles including a 1996 green-lime Ford pickup truck, a red station wagon, a red small passenger car, and a teal passenger vehicle.
One specific incident detailed in an article from the Maryland Independent on April 25, 2003, involved a 39-year-old woman who accepted a ride from a man driving a teal late-model Buick Skylark. The man proceeded to rape her in the vehicle and later dropped her off in a parking lot at a nearby townhouse development. This crime shared similarities with 10 others that occurred since September 1996, leading investigators to believe they were all committed by the same individual.
In each case, the victims were African-American women between the ages of 18 and 45 who were alone. The suspect would either order the women into his car at gunpoint or lure them in by offering rides. Some victims reported being locked inside the vehicle while others woke up in Charles County after falling asleep during the ride. One brave victim even managed to escape by grabbing the steering wheel and driving the vehicle into a ditch.
Despite the passage of time, investigators are hopeful that with advancements in forensic technology, they may be able to link the suspect to the attacks using physical evidence collected at the time. The suspect has been identified as a violent serial sex offender, and detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-866-411-TIPS or visiting www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is committed to bringing justice to the victims of these heinous crimes and is seeking the public’s help in finally identifying and apprehending the suspect.
