East Coast Rapist Likens Himself to Jekyll and Hyde

A serial rapist who was arrested in New Haven, Connecticut last week has described himself as having a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" personality when it comes to women. This similarity to an undesirable character in fiction has resulted in charges of first-degree sexual assault, first-degree burglary, and risk of injury to a minor.

Aaron Thomas is now sitting in jail in lieu of paying $1.5 million bail after an initial appearance in court to stand and face the accusation that he raped at least a dozen women between Virginia and Connecticut between 1997 and 2009. He was brought to justice thanks in part to billboards displaying black-and-white sketches of his face posted along the I-95 corridor—a visual depiction that was possible after one of his victims managed to remove his mask. Following an anonymous tip from a caller in Virginia, U. S. marshals and local police followed Thomas around New Haven and grabbed one of his discarded cigarettes. The DNA he left behind on his trash linked him to the DNA of the attacker who had eluded authorities for years.

Even though the attacks were usually done outdoors, Thomas managed to avoid capture for more than a decade. Thomas himself seemed surprised by his criminal longevity, as he asked what took authorities so long once they arrived to arrest him.

In addition to spending time in prison while he waits for the next step in the judicial proceedings, Thomas has been ordered to visit a psychiatrist. This requirement came as a result of Thomas' unsuccessful attempt to hang himself with articles of his own clothing shortly after his arrest. Once again, the expertise of forensic psychologists is certain to prove critical as the case against Aaron Thomas continues to mount. If convicted of the charges brought against him, Thomas will spend the rest of his life behind bars.