After seven attacks, an accused serial rapist is now behind bars.
Tips and DNA led Harris County Sheriff’s deputies to Charles Devenport. The 25-year-old was arrested Tuesday morning at an apartment complex on Sun Prairie not far from the scenes of the seven rapes. Sheriff Adrian Garcia says the victims were, on average, 18 years old, “The victims were all Hispanic females but regrettably the victims came by virtue of being accessed through escort services.”
Lieutenant Ruben Diaz says Devenport’s level of violence was escalating, that the girls were lured to empty apartments, beaten then sexually assaulted. The fear is there could be more victims out there who are reluctant to come forward.
The search continues for an alleged accomplice. Sheriff Garcia explains a woman gave one of the victims directions when she got lost on her way to the meeting point, “She calls back the number she had as a contact and it was a woman who answered the phone and that woman directed the victim to the paws of this predator.”
The break in the case came from a teenage girl who recognized Devenport from the photos. She showed deputies where he was staying. Devenport has a criminal history of misdemeanor charges. Now, he’s facing one count of aggravated sexual assault and more charges are likely.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Devenport’s father helped officers arrest his son. Investigators reviewed phone records of calls made to the rape victims and traced the calls to the cell phone of Devenport’s father. When questioned, the suspect’s father told investigators his son used the phone. He then provided a DNA sample which allowed officials to determine there was a possible match with DNA left at the scene of one of the assaults.
Garcia has urged other people to contact authorities if they were sexually assaulted by Devenport.
Anyone with information about the cases is asked to call Crime Stoppers 713 222-TIPS.
Sept. 16, 2001 at 1000 Cypress Station
May 12, 2012 at 1000 Cypress Station
Oct. 22, 2012 at 100 Hollow Tree
Dec. 27, 2012 100 Hollow Tree
Jan. 1, 2013 at 200 Hollow Tree
Jan. 22, 2013 at 200 Hollow Tree
Feb. 3, 2013 at 990 Cypress Station
Accused Serial Rapist Arrested; Female Accomplice Sought was originally published on news92fm.com
