"He identified easy prey": 51-year-old suspect posed as an employer and raped an 18-year-old girl on the autism spectrum in Bat Yam
Police will request an extension of the detention for a 51-year-old Bat Yam resident suspected of exploiting an 18-year-old girl with autism. According to investigators, he lured her to an hourly hotel room where he allegedly committed sexual assault.
A 51-year-old resident of Bat Yam, suspected of raping and committing sodomy against an 18-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, whom he first met while she was alone at an Aroma café in Bat Yam, will be brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.
The incident occurred last Thursday. According to the investigation, the suspect approached the victim, introduced himself under a false name, posed as an employer, and offered to take her for a massage. He then led the young woman to an hourly apartment hotel in Bat Yam, where he allegedly raped her and committed sodomy while using violence.
At one point, the suspect called the victim’s brother, who was searching for her with other family members. In the recorded call, the victim can be heard saying in fear: "I’m not to blame. It was him who was with me." Upon realizing his sister’s distress, the brother confronted the suspect, who responded: "What do you want? She’s a normal girl," attempting to defend himself and deny the act.
The suspect fled the scene, leaving the victim alone without knowing her location. At her brother’s request, she sent her location via Waze. Police officers arrived, located her, and documented the physical evidence, including blood stains on her body. Using security footage from the café and thanks to the victim’s resourcefulness, officers from the Ayalon district tracked down and arrested the suspect in an open area.
Attorney Gabi Liberman, representing the victim, stated:
"A young woman with a disability sits in a café, and within minutes she is hunted by a sex predator looking for easy prey. Rape takes many forms, one of which is exploiting a victim’s mental state—someone who cannot understand the situation or the danger due to their disability and cannot provide free consent.
The suspect had every indication that the victim had an intellectual disability and could not consent or resist. This did not stop him; he committed horrific crimes using violence and manipulation.
The victim, through her great resourcefulness, led to the capture of this despicable suspect, making the world a little safer. I hope the police and prosecution will seize this opportunity to ensure justice is served and send a message to all predators who target vulnerable populations whose only 'fault' is trying to live a normal life in a difficult world."
