Followup: Man arrested, charged in Roxbury/24th attack, rape

FIRST REPORT, 3:35 PM: The King County Sheriff’s Office believes it’s finally solved the vicious attack and rape of a 58-year-old woman in the 24th/Roxbury area three months ago – a case that drew regional attention. The attack happened early March 7th, as first reported here; investigators circulated a sketch, a photo of the victim’s purse, and went door to door. Now, DNA evidence has made a match, according to this announcement:

Police in Oklahoma arrested a 25 year old male for the March rape of a female in the White Center area.

The case was solved when the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab developed a DNA profile from evidence collected at the scene which matched the male. He had apparently been visiting King County from Oklahoma when the crime was committed.

The King County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of Rape in the 1st degree and Assault in the 1st degree. An arrest warrant was issued and law enforcement in Oklahoma arrested him yesterday.

The suspect will have to go through the extradition process before being returned to King County.

We’re working to find out more.

5 PM UPDATE: The charging documents we just obtained from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office identify the suspect as 25-year-old Christopher Anthony Brown. They say his record in Oklahoma goes back seven years and includes convictions for burglary and assault/battery on a justice/social-services system worker.

According to the charging papers, the woman had left Roxbury Lanes around 11:30 pm and was walking to catch a bus to her home in South King County. In the 2200 block of SW Roxbury, her attacker approached her and asked for a cigarette. She gave him one and lit it for him, then started to walk away. He then asked if she would have sex with him for $40. She declined, and that’s when, the documents say, he grabbed her around the neck, choked her until she was almost unconscious, and dragged her into a “dark, secluded, semi-fenced corner” area, where he punched, kicked, and hit her along with raping her. He took her purse and said that he knew who she was and where she lived and would kill her and her family if she told anyone what had happened. He ran away; she managed to start walking back toward Roxbury Lanes and encountered a woman who called 911 for her.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment of her injuries and for a sexual-assault examination that gathered the evidence that eventually led authorities to Brown via a DNA match in mid-May. Investigators discovered that although he didn’t seem to have any ties to this area, he was here from late January through mid-April, staying with people who live in the 10000 block of 25th SW, about two blocks from the scene of the attack. He also was on record as pawning several items at Cash America in White Center. The charging papers say the suspect sketch created from the description the victim provided resembled photos of Brown.

21 Replies to "Followup: Man arrested, charged in Roxbury/24th attack, rape"

  • Steve f June 4, 2014 (3:50 pm)

    Wow. Great detective work!

  • BT June 4, 2014 (3:50 pm)

    Good police work to find the thug in Oklahoma, glad they stayed on the case.

  • Ray June 4, 2014 (3:54 pm)

    Good news for all.

  • Mookie June 4, 2014 (3:59 pm)

    Yesssss. Great work.

  • biankat June 4, 2014 (4:13 pm)

    Excellent news!

  • alki resident June 4, 2014 (4:22 pm)

    What a relief for all involved. I hope the victim is recovering from this dramatic event. I can’t believe how far away he was. Thank goodness for DNA testing or they’d never have found him.

  • Katie June 4, 2014 (4:26 pm)

    Ugh. That is so creepy and gross. Glad he was caught.

  • Jason June 4, 2014 (4:34 pm)

    Great news – glad this this monster was caught. For the record this one I’m all for locking up and throwing away the key.

  • FionaEnzo June 4, 2014 (4:54 pm)

    Great work. Hope survivor is doing okay and receiving support and knows that people care about her welfare. Wishing you strength and peace as time allows.

  • AmandaKH June 4, 2014 (5:06 pm)

    That is fantastic news! Thank you to the KCSO and the OK police as well!

  • Yes. Yes. Yes. June 4, 2014 (5:35 pm)

    Fantastic news and I am grateful to the cop’s persistent efforts. And I wish the victim closure and peace–though I’m sure that cannot be easy. Just great news! (I also sign in as No, No, No, but this is most definitely a YES YES YES announcement ;)

  • eb June 4, 2014 (5:37 pm)

    This gives me hope. Thank you KCSO!

  • JanS June 4, 2014 (6:02 pm)

    Jason…I’ll second that !

  • Tbone June 4, 2014 (6:08 pm)

    Excellent news! So sorry for the victim though… What an utterly brutal encounter… Hope justice is served

  • Eric1 June 4, 2014 (6:23 pm)

    Impressive work, crime solved in just about 90 days. I wish every crime was solved with such good and speedy results. Hopefully the DNA evidence puts this guy away for a long time.

  • West Seattle since 1979 June 4, 2014 (7:32 pm)

    Yes!

  • Lindsey June 5, 2014 (8:44 am)

    What an incredibly brave woman, to keep going, to report her attacker in the face of such intense threats and violence. My god. I can’t even imagine. I hope she is recovering. It is because of HER strength that this man is behind bars.

  • Lindsey June 5, 2014 (8:47 am)

    And the cops. Credit where credit is due, I just thought she deserved a TON OF CREDIT for getting the ball rolling by turning him in.

  • Danielle June 5, 2014 (3:40 pm)

    Thoughts and prayers for that brave lady. What a monster to be roaming our streets. I’m with the commenter that suggests throwing away the key.

  • Friend O'Dinghus June 6, 2014 (10:20 pm)

    Now he will know the meaning of the phrase ‘long arm of the law’. I hope he rots in jail for what he did to this poor lady.

  • faceless June 7, 2014 (9:08 am)

    I would like to thank the woman for having the courage to go to the hospital and get help even though he threatened her. Your the real hero. I hope you are healing well.

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