Man Convicted of SW Atlanta Rape

ATLANTA, GA -- An Atlanta man was convicted of rape on Monday and sentenced to life in prison.

Sheldon Gresham was convicted of rape, aggravated assault with intent to rape, kidnapping with bodily injury, and false imprisonment, according to Fulton County DA Paul Howard.

On July 25, 2014 the victim was walking home on Metropolitan Avenue with her cousin around 2:30 a.m. when they were approached by Gresham, who offered to walk the women home.

Once they arrived home, Gresham asked the victim to walk him home. The victim walked him to a street corner and when she refused to walk him any farther, Gresham pulled out a knife and threatened to harm the victim if she did not continue to walk with him.

Gresham forced the victim into an abandoned house located on Thornton Street, where he raped her. The woman begged Gresham to allow her to have some air and as Gresham opened a door, she jumped out of a window, ran to a nearby home and banged on the door until the owner let her in.

The neighbors provided her with clothing and drove her home. The victim led the police to the abandoned home where the rape took place and her clothing was found. DNA testing came back with Gresham as a match after the victim was treated and evidence collected at Grady Hospital.