Investigators say a 35-year-old New Hampshire man brutally raped four Brockton prostitutes.
By Maureen Boyle
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Jun 12, 2008 @ 01:58 AM
BROCKTON -
A three-year hunt for a suspected serial rapist who brutally attacked prostitutes appears to be over.
Authorities arrested a 35-year-old New Hampshire man on a string of rape charges in connection with attacks dating back to 2005 on four city prostitutes. Investigators now hope DNA will wrap up the case.
Brian Knippers, 35, of Newmarket, N.H., who works for a Waltham computer company, faces a string of charges, ranging from aggravated rape and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon to threats to commit a crime.
He was arraigned earlier this week and ordered held without bail by Brockton District Court Judge Ronald F. Moynahan. A detention hearing is set for Monday.
The charges stem from attacks on Oct. 8, 2005; Feb. 4, 2006; July 11, 2006; and Aug. 26, 2007, said Brockton Lt. John Crowley, chief of detectives.
Authorities are now trying to force Knippers to provide a DNA sample.
"These were particularly violent rapes," Crowley said. "There was the fear, each time, that he would potentially kill somebody."
Detectives had tracked a variety of leads over the years.
"In one particular rape, he drove to a wooded area, struck the woman in the head with the flashlight, she fell and hit the front of her head on a rock," Crowley said. "He got some rope from the truck, tied her hands and feet, then raped her."
The suspect then held a knife at her, saying he would let her go, but if she came after him he would kill her, Crowley said.
The arrest followed interviews with potential witnesses, hours of surveillance by police and forensic lab tests that initially linked the rapes.
Investigators have been able to link the rapes through DNA evidence but were unable to identify a suspect through any databases.
In April, one of the rape victims called police to say she had just seen the man who attacked her and was able to obtain his license plate number, Crowley said.
"That was our break," he said.
Detective Erin Cummings and other detectives, after further investigation, were able to obtain an arrest warrant for the suspect, Crowley said.
Police first went to his home in Newmarket, N.H., during the weekend, when they learned he had gone to a Celtics game, Crowley said.
One team of detectives went to the game and another went to his Waltham workplace, Crowley said.
"In Waltham, they found the car he was driving and boxed it in. They went into the building and he apparently fled out a bathroom window," Crowley said.
The suspect ran out, got in his car and drove over the curb, hit a pole and shrubs to escape, Crowley said.
The suspect later, after negotiations through his attorney, surrendered at the Dover, N.H., police station, he said.
Crowley said the investigation is continuing and would not rule out additional charges being lodged.
http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/...l-rapist-suspect-caught-after-three-year-hunt
By Maureen Boyle
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Jun 12, 2008 @ 01:58 AM
BROCKTON -
A three-year hunt for a suspected serial rapist who brutally attacked prostitutes appears to be over.
Authorities arrested a 35-year-old New Hampshire man on a string of rape charges in connection with attacks dating back to 2005 on four city prostitutes. Investigators now hope DNA will wrap up the case.
Brian Knippers, 35, of Newmarket, N.H., who works for a Waltham computer company, faces a string of charges, ranging from aggravated rape and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon to threats to commit a crime.
He was arraigned earlier this week and ordered held without bail by Brockton District Court Judge Ronald F. Moynahan. A detention hearing is set for Monday.
The charges stem from attacks on Oct. 8, 2005; Feb. 4, 2006; July 11, 2006; and Aug. 26, 2007, said Brockton Lt. John Crowley, chief of detectives.
Authorities are now trying to force Knippers to provide a DNA sample.
"These were particularly violent rapes," Crowley said. "There was the fear, each time, that he would potentially kill somebody."
Detectives had tracked a variety of leads over the years.
"In one particular rape, he drove to a wooded area, struck the woman in the head with the flashlight, she fell and hit the front of her head on a rock," Crowley said. "He got some rope from the truck, tied her hands and feet, then raped her."
The suspect then held a knife at her, saying he would let her go, but if she came after him he would kill her, Crowley said.
The arrest followed interviews with potential witnesses, hours of surveillance by police and forensic lab tests that initially linked the rapes.
Investigators have been able to link the rapes through DNA evidence but were unable to identify a suspect through any databases.
In April, one of the rape victims called police to say she had just seen the man who attacked her and was able to obtain his license plate number, Crowley said.
"That was our break," he said.
Detective Erin Cummings and other detectives, after further investigation, were able to obtain an arrest warrant for the suspect, Crowley said.
Police first went to his home in Newmarket, N.H., during the weekend, when they learned he had gone to a Celtics game, Crowley said.
One team of detectives went to the game and another went to his Waltham workplace, Crowley said.
"In Waltham, they found the car he was driving and boxed it in. They went into the building and he apparently fled out a bathroom window," Crowley said.
The suspect ran out, got in his car and drove over the curb, hit a pole and shrubs to escape, Crowley said.
The suspect later, after negotiations through his attorney, surrendered at the Dover, N.H., police station, he said.
Crowley said the investigation is continuing and would not rule out additional charges being lodged.
http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/...l-rapist-suspect-caught-after-three-year-hunt