Failed Getaway Attempt Ends in Arrest of St. Peters Man Accused of Rape

St. Peters Police have a man in custody accused of raping his ex-wife.

Robert E. Daniel, 48, of St. Peters, has been arrested and charged with Assault 1st, Forcible Rape, Assault on Law Enforcement and Stealing of a Credit Card. He is currently being held at St. Charles County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

According to a release from the St. Peters Police Department, police received a call on Aug. 7 from the victim stating she was just sexually assaulted by her ex-husband at her residence. When officers arrived on the scene Daniel, the suspect, was gone. The victim told police Daniel was recently homeless and had been staying in the basement of her residence for the last few days. 

The victim told police Daniel woke her up at 3 a.m. and was physically restraining her, threatening to rape her and then kill himself. Police said Daniel then raped the victim several times over a three hours time span. 

According to the release, the victim told police she did attempt to fight off Daniel, but he became angrier with her and started strangling her. Daniel eventually fled the residence and the victim was able to contact police.

The victim had non-life threatening injuries, but was transported to the hospital for an evaluation. 

The St. Peters Criminal Investigations Division assigned numerous detectives to this case in attempts to locate the suspect. According to the release , approximately eight hours after the attack, police were given word that the was in the O’Fallon area on a parking lot off of Highway K and Mexico Road.  

Detectives located Daniel inside his vehicle on the parking lot, activated their emergency lights and identified themselves as police officers and ordered him out of his vehicle. Daniel refused to comply and instead fled the area at a high rate of speed in his vehicle.  

St. Peters Police Detectives, along with the multi-jurisdictional police helicopter, pursued the vehicle into a nearby neighborhood a couple of miles away.

Police said the suspect unknowingly drove his vehicle onto a no outlet street, turned around and drove towards an unmarked detective vehicle, striking it head on.  The suspect was taken into custody without any further incident.

The detective received non-life threatening injuries and was released back to duty.  The suspect was conveyed to the hospital, but did not appear to have any injuries. 

The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued warrants for Assault 1st, Forcible Rape, Assault on Law Enforcement and Stealing of a Credit Card.  He is currently being held at St. Charles County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

Police said Daniel has an extensive criminal history which includes Sexual Assault, Delivery/Possession of a Controlled Substance, Passing Bad Checks, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Domestic Assault.  He is also a registered sex offender in the State of Missouri.