GRAND JURY INDICTS BRONX MAN SUSPECTED OF RAPING AND SODOMIZING TEN WOMEN IN THE BRONX OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury has indicted suspected serial rapist Luis Acosta on multiple counts of rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, burglary, robbery, attempted murder, attempted assault, assault and escape in connection with attacks against six women in separate incidents. Additional charges involving four other victims, also in separate incidents, are still under review and awaiting action by the grand jury.

It is alleged, in a complaint filed in Criminal Court, that Acosta, also known as Jose Santiago, forcibly raped or sodomized ten women over a five year period from March 1997 through February 2002. The victims ranged in age from thirteen years old to fifty eight years old.

Acosta initially was taken into custody last May but escaped and remained at large until detectives apprehended him last weekend.

Acosta is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in Bronx State Supreme Court - Part B, on Tuesday, November 26, 2002.

Senior Investigative Assistant District Attorney Astrid Borgstedt of the Domestic Violence / Sex Offense Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Johanna Hernandez are prosecuting the case.