Woman Held Hostage, Repeatedly Sexually Assaulted Over 12 Hours By Ex-Boyfriend: SCPO

FRANKLIN, NJ — A man was arrested after police say he held his ex-girlfriend hostage at knifepoint for over 12 hours and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

Walter Robinson, 40, of Edgewater Park, was arrested in relation to the repeated sexual assaults that happened in Franklin Township last week.

On Tuesday, March 3, at around 4:20 p.m., an adult woman and Franklin Township resident called 911, reporting a sexual assault.

Franklin Township Police went to the victim’s home, where the victim said on March 3, over the course of 12 hours, she was held captive in her home and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Robinson, who was known to her, said McDonald.

The victim said she had been in a romantic relationship with Robinson, which ended in 2024. They remained in touch and would check in on each other from time to time.

Earlier in the night, the victim said she was talking to Robinson, who said he was going to come to her home. The victim told Robinson not to come to her home, said McDonald.

Robinson went to the home around 3 a.m. and made a sexual advance towards the victim, which she said she turned down.

According to the victim, Robinson got a knife from her home and threatened her life.

Robinson then sexually assaulted her multiple times under the threat of harm over the next 12 hours until around 3 p.m. when he finally left the home, according to authorities.

The victim said she tried several times to alert her neighbors during this period but was unsuccessful.

An investigation was conducted by detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit.

On March 4, Robinson was arrested at his home in Edgewater Park.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Franklin Township Police Department searched the home, where they found a knife matching the description of the one used during the assault.

Robinson was taken to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office where he was charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree strangulation, third-degree terroristic threats, two counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and two counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Robinson was lodged in Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing on this matter.

McDonald thanked the members of the Willingboro Township Police Department, Edgewater Park Township Police Department, and members of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office for their help with this investigation.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through Somerset County Communication at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or through the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office website at SCPO.TIPS. All anonymous STOPit reports and tips will be kept confidential.

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