Houston Rapist Preys on Young Men

In east Harris County, TX, police are on the lookout for a serial rapist who has struck five times in the Houston area since mid-September. Investigators say there may be even more victims of the rapist, but they may be too young or too ashamed to come forward. The reason for that reluctance is that the rapist is a man, and his victims have been young men.

"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. Investigators believe that rape is the primary motive, although some of the victims have been robbed as well. In some instances the attacker came up to a victim outside the victim’s home; in other cases he broke into the home. The rapist usually stalks, robs, and sexually assaults his victims at gunpoint. He apparently chooses them randomly.

The five victims so far have all been young white males in their late teens or early 20s, most of whom are students still living at home with their parents. "I wish we had a link between the victims, because we might have a better chance of catching him," said Lt. Richard Whitaker of the police department in Baytown, where two of the attacks took place. But investigators have not found any affirmative links between the victims. "I think he just sees one that he prefers, and then he begins to follow them and gather information, finding out where they live and watching their house," Whitaker said.

The most recent attack was November 30 in Baytown’s Tanglewilde subdivision. The other attacks took place in the Lakewood and Chaparral Village subdivisions in Baytown, and in the Highlands area. "It’s not a typical thing," said Baytown Police Captain Roger Clifford. "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’s trying to fulfill."

Police have released a composite sketch based on victims’ recollections. The FBI is assisting in developing a profile to help identify the perpetrator. Investigators have warned men in the Houston area who fit the victims’ profile to be aware of their surroundings, because they believe the rapist takes his time to carefully select his victims and stalk them. "He does his homework and has everything well planned out," said Clifford. "Most of the time victims are totally unaware that this guy was anywhere around."

The attacker is described as a clean-shaven, light-skinned black male, 18 to 21 years old, 5’6" to 6’ tall, about 200 pounds, nicely dressed, with a shaved head. He may be driving a blue or silver sport utility vehicle, according to reports. Clifford asks anyone with information to contact Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.