Baytown Police Nab Suspect Tied To Five Rapes And Home Invasions Of Men

Baytown, TX (AHN) - Police have arrested a 19-year-old Baytown man who they believe may be involved in five cases of rape and burglary directed towards men.

Residents in Bay town were relieved when police notified the community they nabbed the suspect. Area residents were fearful for their own safety and that of their children especially their sons.

The suspect Keith Chester Hill, has been charged with one incident, but investigators say he could be involved in as many as five. The arrest came when Hill was placed in five different lineups and according to the Harris County Sheriffs' Department a victim identified him

The victim in question was a man subject to a brutal home invasion and rape.

At a press conference held on Wednesday a police spokesman said Hill, was placed on a law enforcement watch list as a "person of interest," shortly before Christmas.

According to AP reports the district attorney's office has also accepted aggravated robbery charges against Hill, however police say more charges could follow. Police believe Hill may be tied to or responsible for several other attacks that began in April 2006.

Capt. Roger Clifford of the Baytown Police Department says in an AP report, "We're optimistic that additional charges will be filed on our four remaining cases," Clifford said. "We've got lots of evidence that we'll have to sift through - good, solid evidence."

KHOU reports Baytown Police Department Lt. David Alford credits the Baytown Talk blog, which he frequently monitored for information on the case, with keeping the search for the rapist in the spotlight.

"It's just another example of how a well-informed public can work in tandem with a police department. And the bad guys don't stand a chance," Alford said.

Based on DNA Hill gave detectives voluntarily, police were able to match his DNA to DNA taken from the victim. Thats when detectives arrested and charged Hill with aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping in the rape of a young teen back in May of 2006.

Clifford continues, "We did not actually make him a suspect until recently, but he has certainly been a person of interest that we were looking forward to finding more out about him. When we were able to get a sample of DNA evidence, we were able to link him to the case in that way."

Police believe Hill could be responsible for several other attacks on young men dating back to April 2006. Police have not publicly identified the victims, but did say all were white young men, short in stature but athletic. Investigators also revealed the men all looked similar and could have been brothers based on their resemblance.

Lynn Senesac says, "Personally I'd like to castrate him myself, but I think it's great that they caught him."

In the attacks Hill is accused of victims say he used a gun or a knife. Cornered the men outside or just inside their parents home demanding money and sex. Police say not all of the men complied with his requests. Since there is no real profile for these types of crimes police say his main motivation was total domination and sexual gratification.

Investigators say he was definitely larger in stature than his victims, and he probably picked them because he knew he could physically handle them. However thanks to victims definitively describing him well, it aided in the case.

The U.S. Justice Department says one in 33 men in the United States has been a victim of a rape or attempted rape, compared with one in six women.