Georgia man arrested for allegedly raping 5 women in NYC in 1990s
A shocking case of a Georgia man being arrested nearly three decades after allegedly committing a series of violent rapes in Queens has left the community in disbelief. Michael Benjamin, 57, was taken into custody after DNA evidence linked him to multiple rape cases that occurred between 1995 and 1997 in southeast Queens.
The breakthrough in the case came when investigators collected Benjamin’s DNA from a discarded cup he left at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s office in Georgia. The DNA sample was then matched to evidence from the separate rape incidents in Queens, leading to his arrest.
Benjamin was extradited to New York and charged with heinous crimes including rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual assault in the first degree, and burglary in the first degree. The details of the crimes he is accused of committing are truly disturbing.
One of the incidents took place in July 1995, when Benjamin allegedly broke into a woman’s home in St. Albans, covered her head with a sheet, and raped her before fleeing with her belongings. In another case in August 1996, he entered a home in the early hours of the morning, covered a woman’s head with a jacket, and proceeded to rape her while stealing items from the house.
The pattern of violence continued with more attacks in September 1996 and February 1997, where Benjamin allegedly targeted women walking home or inside their residences. In one particularly harrowing incident, he forced a woman at gunpoint into her home, threatened her family, and committed the assault.
Despite his vehement claims of innocence, Benjamin’s past criminal record as a level 3 sex offender from a 1990 attempted rape case casts a shadow over his protestations. His attorney has raised concerns about the statute of limitations for the charges, but the pre-indictment in 2002 has kept the case alive for prosecution.
At his arraignment, Benjamin was denied bail and faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of the charges. The Queens District Attorney emphasized the importance of seeking justice for the victims and commended the bravery of those who came forward to provide crucial DNA evidence.
The case serves as a reminder that justice may be delayed, but it is never too late to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. Benjamin will have his day in court, where the full extent of his alleged crimes will be brought to light. The community awaits the resolution of this long-standing cold case with hope for closure for the victims and their families.
