Police Searching for Armed Rapist who Met Victim Through Social Media

Woonsocket police are trying to identify a man who allegedly raped a Woonsocket woman at gunpoint after he agreed to meet her through a social media dating site.

Police said the suspect arrived at the victim’s apartment at the Morin Heights Housing Complex on May 7 at around 8:30 p.m.

After she refused several attempts by the suspect to get her to come for a ride in his vehicle, he pulled out a long-barrel handgun, held it against her head and dragged her to a secluded area in the complex where he raped her at gunpoint.

He then walked to his car and drove off, police said.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned Hispanic man standing about 5-feet 9-inches tall. He is between 25 and 30 years old and had long black hair worn in pig tails.

He also had short, scruffy facial hair and used the screen name ”Ben Franks” on the social media site.

Police said he was driven to the site by an unknown black man who looked to be about 30-years-old. The vehicle is a dark blue Jeep Liberty with unknown Massachusetts plates.

The vehicle also had a dark sticker on the right rear bumper that said “I love my kids” in white letters next to a red heart.

If you have any information, call Woonsocket Police Det. Sgt. Kevin Sanford at 401-766-1212 ext. 8870.