May 3, 2011

Crime Solvers Tip Aids in Capture of East Coast Rapist

Crime Solvers programs around the region are applauding their role in a recent capture. An anonymous tip through Crime Solvers assisted police in the arrest of the highly sought-after “East Coast Rapist.” Detectives around the region and as far reaching as Rhode Island and Connecticut worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to create a website and billboard signs that ran up and down the east coast with pertinent information in a series of sexual assaults.

More than 12 women and children were reportedly sexually assaulted by the same man. Those attacks began in Prince Georges County, MD in February, 1997. The suspect then attacked women in Fairfax County, VA, Leesburg, VA, Cranston, RI, New Haven, CT and Prince William County, VA. DNA in those cases all returned to the same suspect.

Detectives launched the billboards and website, bringing a great deal of media attention to the story. That publicity reached an anonymous tipster who contacted Prince Georges County Crime Solvers. The information provided by that tipster identified a suspect that detectives were already investigating and accelerated the arrest of the alleged suspect, Aaron Thomas, 39, of New Haven, CT, on March 6, in New Haven, CT.

As a result of that arrest, the anonymous tipster will now receive cash rewards from Prince Georges County Crime Solvers, Fairfax County Crime Solvers and Prince William County Crime Solvers.

To receive cash awards for a tip contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637). A $100 to $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information that leads to an arrest. As always, callers never have to give their names or appear in court.