A man wanted for two rapes that occurred in Massachusetts in 1989 Arrested Police say he was spotted living on a luxury yacht in Los Angeles earlier this month.
Investigators said suspect Stephen Paul Gayle, 71, had been on the run after DNA testing linked him to the rape.
“He has the money to hire a private attorney, live on a yacht and drive a Lincoln, but his money won’t help our case.”
Gayle was indicted in April on charges of raping two women at gunpoint while they worked at a Framingham clothing store in 1989. He also was charged with kidnapping and armed robbery.
Police believe Gayle suspected he was being watched in the Los Angeles Marina because he managed to escape a police pursuit on August 8. Police used spike strips to disable his vehicle and then arrested him at Westwood Medical Plaza.
Authorities are considering extraditing him to Massachusetts to stand trial.
One of Gayle’s alleged victims He told WCVB-TV She was relieved that he had finally been caught.
“I have waited 34 years for Gayle’s arrest,” the woman said. “I was raped at 18 while working in a clothing store during my winter break from college. It is only thanks to the incredible investigative work and strength of the victims that I have been able to continue to fight for justice.”
She claimed Gayle had amputated a finger and used a number of aliases to prevent him being identified.
“He lives like royalty and had no problem walking a narrow boardwalk over the water or driving a car for 90 minutes to evade arrest,” she continued. “He has the funds to hire a private attorney, live on a yacht and drive a Lincoln, but his money won’t help our case. We have solid DNA evidence against him, his face and two victims who will never forget him. [have] I never gave up on finding him.”
One of the suspect’s neighbors told WCVB he doesn’t believe the allegations, saying the suspect was making modifications to the yacht in order to sell it and buy a bigger one.
“I’m absolutely shocked. I’m absolutely stunned,” Don Smollett said.
“That boat was packed with every new thing you can imagine – electronics and everything. I could never have afforded the kind of stuff that was packed into that boat, so he had the money to do it,” he added.
“You don’t know who you’re talking to anymore,” Smollett concluded.
Gayle was being held on $2 million bail.
Video of the yacht and police chasing the suspect Published Streamed on YouTube by WCVB-TV.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censorship and sign up for our newsletter to receive stories like this directly to your inbox. Register here!
