Serial Rapist Wanted For Attacks In Charlotte Caught In South Carolina

CHARLOTTE, NC -- A man Charlotte police say is the prime suspect responsible for raping women at gunpoint and robbing them in two separate incidents, has been arrested for a similar crime in South Carolina.

He also faces charges for burglary in Texas, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say.

Lance Rontavis Elam, 30, was arrested April 28 in Bluffton, S.C., for sexual assault and burglary. DNA evidence collected in South Carolina confirmed he was also the suspect wanted for a similar crime committed Jan. 9, 2016. In that case, an unknown man broke into an apartment in the 2700 block of Clemson Avenue, forcibly raped a woman at gunpoint and stole cash from her. The same scenario played out again later that same year in Charlotte when, an Aug. 6, 2016, the suspect attacked another female victim in her apartment in the 8300 block of Runaway Bay Drive.

DNA collected from both of those cases confirmed the same suspect was wanted for an unsolved burglary in Midland, Texas, CMPD said Friday. (Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Charlotte Patch. iPhone users can download the Patch app in the App Store. Plus, like Charlotte Patch on Facebook.)

Elam’s whereabouts, however, were unknown until he was arrested earlier this year in Bluffton for a sexual assault and burglary there.

He is now facing 16 warrants in Charlotte including five counts of 1st degree rape, four counts of 1st degree sex offense, 2nd degree rape, two counts of 1st degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of 1st degree breaking and entering, and assault with a deadly weapon. CMPD said there not timetable for his return to Mecklenburg County has been set.

Photo courtesy of CMPD