The person at the center of this case
Six to nine hotel housekeepers and women in the Washington D.C. area
Cold Case · Open
27 years waiting · since 1998
D.C.-AREA HOTEL RAPIST
Justice for Six to nine hotel housekeepers and women in the Washington D.C. area — the trail went cold in 1998, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Male, Black, age 20s-30s at time of incidents, 5'7" to 5'10", medium to stocky build, black hair, brown eyes—why has he evaded identification for nearly two decades despite DNA evidence?
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evidence
Lead #2A personalized box cutter marked 'Debbie' and a suspect's ring were recovered—can these items be traced to the perpetrator's identity or associates?
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location
Lead #3Why were hotel housekeepers specifically targeted across multiple properties in the D.C. area—was the suspect employed in the hotel industry?
Between August 1998 and February 2006, a serial rapist attacked six to nine women across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, predominantly targeting hotel housekeepers in their workplaces. Six attacks have been linked by DNA to a single offender who used weapons like box cutters and cords to threaten victims. Despite decades of investigation and physical evidence including a personalized box cutter and a suspect ring, the perpetrator remains unidentified and at large.
Case
#323
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George's County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Greenbelt Police Department, Arlington County Police
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👁️
witness
Lead #4Hotel staff and guests at Renaissance and Hilton properties during the incidents may hold crucial details about the suspect's appearance, behavior, or movements.
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clue
Lead #5Five additional suspicious incidents at area hotels may be connected—what evidence links or distinguishes these cases from the six DNA-confirmed attacks?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Washington, D.C. area 1998 to 2006 The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Washington D.C.
Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George's County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Greenbelt Police Department, and Arlington County Police are asking for the public's assistance in identifying an individual responsible for a series of sexual assaults in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Between August 22, 1998, and February 6, 2006, a serial rapist violently assaulted six to nine women in the Washington D.C. area.
Six of these attacks have been linked by DNA to a single offender, and suspicious activity was reported in five additional area hotels which may also be related. In the vast majority of these cases, hotel housekeepers were victimized.
The unknown individual would enter hotel rooms unnoticed and rape housekeepers while they were cleaning. In several of the incidents, the suspect used a box cutter, a necktie, or a cord to threaten and harm his victims.
Timeline of Events
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1998-08-22
Series begins
First documented sexual assault in the D.C. area hotel rapist series
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2002-01-01
Box cutter recovered
Box cutter with name 'Debbie' written on it used in 2002 incident at Hilton Hotel in Silver Spring, Maryland
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2003-01-01
Ring recovered
Suspect's ring came off during assault at Renaissance Washington D.C. Metropolitan Hotel on 9th Street NW
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2006-02-06
Series ends
Last documented attack in the serial rapist series
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:August 22, 1998
Last Updated:July 22, 2026
Up to $5,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:August 22, 1998
Last Updated:July 22, 2026
Up to $5,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case