DNA Links Redondo Beach Man To Rape Of Woman He Met Online
GARDENA (CBSLA.com) — A Redondo Beach man's DNA linked him to the rape of a woman he met on a social networking website last year.
Corey Delaine Stewart, 40, was taken into custody on Feb. 27 in connection to the Sept. 28, 2012 sexual assault, according to Gardena police Lt. Steve Prendergast.
The suspect is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Police believe Stewart befriended the victim on Tagged.com.
After communicating for several weeks, the woman agreed to meet Stewart under the belief that she was being set up for a job interview.
Investigators said the woman got into Stewart's black Ford Explorer and he drove her to a residential neighborhood in Gardena where he raped her at gunpoint.
"According to the victim, the car was set up so that the passenger could not exit. The door handles and locking devices were disabled. The victim also described the front passenger seat as being able to recline to a fully flat position," said Prendergast.
Stewart may have an accomplice using the same vehicle to commit similar crimes, authorities said.
Officials encourage other victims or anyone with information on the case to contact Det. Michael Ross at (310) 217-9635.
