Northampton Police Search For More Victims Of Possible Serial Rapist
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (CBS) – Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli announced Wednesday the arrest of a man charged in connection to two rapes. Police believe the suspect may have victimized other women and are urging anyone who may have been assaulted to come forward.
Morganelli said 20-year-old David Martinez of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was charged with two counts of rape following an investigation.
According to Morganelli, the alleged suspect met the first victim, 17, through Facebook in August of 2012 where they exchanged phone numbers and began to text each other on a daily basis.
Morganelli said the victim agreed to have Martinez pick her up from her home in Catasauqua, Pa. on September 21, 2012, making it their first physical encounter. They then returned to the suspect's home on Maple Street in Bethlehem.
Investigators say the victim reported that while they were at Martinez's house, he became very aggressive and attempted to remove her pants. Police say the victim told Martinez she did not want to have sex, but he became more aggressive, removed her pants, and raped her.
Morganelli said that a similar incident occurred in Bethlehem with a 14-year-old female. The victim reported that she was sexually assaulted by Martinez in February 2012, at the same location, after meeting him on Facebook, exchanging numbers and then meeting in person.
The DA said when investigators asked the suspect during an interview why he became so aggressive with the females, Martinez allegedly said his hormones were out of control and he believed he's addicted to sex.
Morganelli said Martinez allegedly told investigators although he felt somewhat sorry for his conduct, he felt he couldn't control himself and that there were other incidents involving similar situations.
Further investigation revealed it was not unordinary for Martinez to meet young females through Facebook. Morganelli said the suspect would exchange information through the social networking site and then lure the girls into face-to-face meetings where he would sexually assault them.
"That's unbelievable. I can't believe that young boy was doing something like that. He seems like a good young man. Went to school, worked," said Ricky Davila, a neighbor of Martinez.
Police believe that there may be more victims and are asking anyone who has been contacted on Facebook by David Martinez to call 610-997-7674 or 610-559-3020.
Martinez was arraigned on two charges of rape and other offense and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail.
