FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office received a report March 12 from a woman who said she was forcibly raped while working at a massage therapy business in the 5000 block of Plank Road, according to authorities.
Detectives collected physical and photographic evidence and later distributed a flyer seeking the public's help identifying a suspect.
Nearly six months later, on Aug. 31, Fredericksburg's E-911 Center received a report of a similar sexual assault at a massage and wellness spa in the 2100 block of Plank Road.
The woman in that case told investigators she was forcibly raped while working at the business, police said.
With help from witnesses, Fredericksburg investigators developed a suspect and noticed similarities between that person and the suspect depicted in the flyer distributed by Spotsylvania authorities.
Detectives from the two agencies began working together and determined the crimes were connected based on similarities in the suspect descriptions and the types of businesses targeted, according to police.
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Investigators identified Torres Juarez as the suspect in both cases.
In Fredericksburg, Torres Juarez was wanted on charges of rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, abduction with intent to defile and strangulation.
In Spotsylvania County, he was wanted on charges of rape, abduction by force and assault and battery.
Police initially said Torres Juarez's whereabouts were unknown and investigators believed he might be in the South Boston area of Virginia. Authorities announced Friday morning that he had been apprehended in Spotsylvania County.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the cases can contact Fredericksburg Police at 540-373-3122, option 2, or the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office at 540-582-7115.
People seeking assistance following a sexual assault can contact the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault's 24-hour hotline at 540-371-1666.
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