The Columbus Division of Police may have made a break in the serial rape case which brought national attention to the Ohio State area last summer.
Kennedy Wheeler, a 41-year-old black male with a prior sexual assault conviction, was named as a suspect in the case after being apprehended Monday on a charge of receiving stolen property.
Wheeler is accused of using either an ATM card or credit card that was reported stolen in a series of off-campus burglaries. Noting the close proximity between the burglaries and the sexual assaults, police are investigating a possible link between the two cases.
“Because the suspect in custody is so close to the description (given of the rapist), and considering his history, we would be remiss not to actively pursue the possibility,” said Sherry Mercurio, spokeswoman for the Columbus police.
The OSU-area rapist is reported to be a black male between 30 and 40 years of age and of average height and weight, with either short hair or a shaved head.
Having acquired a warrant for Wheeler’s arrest, police confronted the suspect in the vicinity of Reflections Drive, near his residence. Wheeler led officers on a chase on foot and was apprehended in a field adjacent to Don Scott Airport, said Sgt. Brent Mull of the Columbus police.
The six rapes that gripped the campus area in 2002 took place between May and September, each occuring from 5-10 a.m. within an area bounded by King Avenue, Neil Avenue, Patterson Avenue and Conrail Railroad. In each case, the perpetrator gained access to his victims by entering their homes through an unlocked door or window.
Five of the six victims were OSU students.
Since September, several more rapes have occurred just north of campus, the closest near Lane Avenue. While the perpetrator of these assaults reportedly matches the physical description of that of the previous six, Columbus police said it is unknown whether the same man is responsible.
The case made national headlines over the summer, with outlets including CNN and MSNBC picking up the story.
In response to greater media scrutiny, the university orchestrated a public awareness campaign as fall quarter commenced: University Police made door-to-door visits to warn local residents about the threat and resident advisers held mandatory floor meetings to discuss safety issues. Undergraduate Student Government also got into the act, making house alarms available to students at discount prices.
Representatives for the Columbus police stress Wheeler is only a suspect and has not been charged with sexual assault.
“The media’s going nuts — they’ve got this guy convicted already,” Mull said. “The investigation is moving forward, but it still has to run its course.”
OSU administrators said they are cautiously optimistic about the situation.
“It’s absolutely wonderful to hear that the police have someone in custody — it will be welcome news for our students,” said Bill Hall, vice president of Student Affairs. “But we still ask them to be cautious and stay on alert.”
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