People Magazine’s Most Eligible Bachelor a Rapist?

By Pamela Mortimer

There’s a reason he’s single. Gary Zerola, one of People Magazine’s "Most Eligible Bachelors" is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday to face charges of attacking two Massachusetts women in 2004 and 2006. Zerola also faces charges in Florida.

Zerola, who was also a contender for the TV reality show "The Bachelor", apparently has a darker side that wasn’t obvious to those who celebrated his "brooding" good looks and charitable works with foster children.

The trials slated to begin in Boston on Tuesday will address the charges that Zerola attacked two 19 year old females in 2004 and 2006. The accused also faces charges in a Florida case from October, where authorities say Zerola broke his bail agreement to go to Florida to see a Miami Dolphins game. While there, Zerola allegedly force-fed drugs to an 18 year old woman and then raped her in a Miami Beach hotel.

According to prosecutors, Zerola met all three women in bars, where he laid on the charm. Later, he attacked them when they refused to have sexual relations with him. In the most recent Boston case, Zerola allegedly took the would-be victim woman shopping at Neiman Marcus, where he bought her a pair of $250 shoes and a $700 dress before attempting to rape her in his Boston apartment.

"He spent some time grooming these girls," prosecutor Suzanne Kontz said during a November hearing.

Prosecutors state that Zerola is far different from the man who dedicated himself to helping foster children.

Gary Zerola is the youngest of seven children. The boy was placed in foster care at age 3 after his parents split up and his mother fell ill. Over the next decade, Gary was shuffled between a dozen foster families until he eventually found a home with a lawyer and his wife who live in a suburb of Boston.

Zerola, 36, was to follow in his foster father’s footsteps. He attended Suffolk University, where he earned degrees in law and public administration. Zerola made such a good impression that he delivered his law school commencement address.

"He was bright and articulate," said John E. Fenton Jr., one of Zerola's law professors. "I don't remember what he spoke about, but I can tell you he gave an excellent speech."

After law school, Zerola worked as a state prosecutor on child abuse and domestic violence cases. He also became well-known as an advocate for foster children and started a volunteer group that raised money to buy clothing and gifts for the children. Zerola was regularly featured in newspaper gossip columns and participated in a charity dating auction where he garnered an $800 bid. At age 29, Zerola was named one of People's "50 Most Eligible Bachelors".

People Magazine also published a profile of Zerola in which he spoke of his troubled childhood. "Statistically speaking, I should be in debt or in jail because of the upbringing I had," he said.

In the 2004 assault case, a woman accused Zerola of repeatedly raping her in his Boston apartment. In 2006, a woman told police that after a first date, she went back to his apartment to use the bathroom and after she turned down Zerola's sexual advances, he ripped off her dress and underwear. He also slammed the woman’s head against the wall and refused to let her leave.

The woman dialed 911 on her cell phone and police managed to track the call to Zerola's apartment.

According to sources, Zerola's law license has been suspended. He is currently free on $100,000 bail awaiting trial. Neither Zerola nor Janice Bassil, his attorney, has returned calls seeking comment.