Retired Police Sergeant Accused of Being Serial Rapist in Detroit
A retired police sergeant, aged 68, is now under investigation as a suspect in a series of kidnappings and rapes in Detroit, according to the FBI.
Benjamin Martin Wagner had a long career with the Detroit Police Department, spanning nearly three decades, before his arrest in Greenville, North Carolina—a significant time after the alleged assaults.
In a notable development, his arrest came after authorities tested over 11,000 previously untested rape kits tied to cases dating back to 1984, which had been kept in a Detroit Police Department warehouse since 2009.
Prosecutors report that Wagner is accused of kidnapping and assaulting five women and girls in northwest Detroit from 1999 to 2003, and there may be more victims that have yet to come forward.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy stated, “It’s tragic to see a man who was supposed to uphold the law living a double life as a serial offender.” The age of the victims ranged between 15 and 23 years.
Worthy added that most incidents happened in the early morning hours when victims were simply on their way home from school, work, or visiting friends. She described how Wagner utilized isolation and violence during these attacks, often brandishing a handgun and threatening the lives of his victims to ensure silence.
After years of being undetected, Wagner’s career in law enforcement lasted from 1989 to 2017, during which he received various accolades.
This disturbing case highlights an ongoing issue in many police departments across the nation—while rape kits are collected, they frequently remain untested due to various constraints. There are still an estimated 50,000 rape kits sitting untested, allowing perpetrators to escape justice and continue victimizing individuals.
Rachel Lovell, a criminology expert at Cleveland State University, remarked on the broader implications, stating, “We have let down at least one generation of survivors in how the system deals with sexual assault.” Wagner is set to be extradited to Michigan to face charges on March 17.
