Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Jan. 19, 1995: Fugitive Rapist Surrenders


On January 15, 1995, former high school wrestling star Alex Kelly surrendered to authorities in Switzerland after being on the run for eight years. He was wanted in the U.S. for committing two rapes in his hometown of Darien, CT.

Kelly (18 at the time) met the first victim (also a teenager) at a party and offered to take her home. He choked her, threatened to kill her, then raped her. Four days later, he did the same thing again to another teenage girl. Just before jury selection began for his trial, he fled the country. He spent the next eight years on the run in Europe, mostly hopping between ski resorts. U.S. authorities suspected his parents were providing him with funds and searched their home in July 1994, which provided vital clues as to Kelly's whereabouts.

Following his surrender, Kelly was extradited back to the U.S. and was finally convicted in 1997. He was sentenced to sixteen years, but was released after ten for good behavior.

READ MORE: New York Daily News

READ MORE: Wikipedia

ON FILM: Crime in Connecticut: The Story of Alex Kelly

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