FL - "Pillowcase Rapist", 44 Victims, 1981-86, Miami to Deerfield Beach *Arrest in 2020* *guilty*

[Legally Bland]

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Palm Bay man suspected of being the notorious serial rapist who terrorized South Florida stood before a Brevard County judge Tuesday, uttering three words to sum up his response to his arrest, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.

“I’m not guilty,” said Robert Eugene Koehler, 60, who was arrested at his home Saturday. Koehler, a court-registered sex offender, stood in the jailhouse courtroom and was directed to sign the paperwork presented to him during his appearance.

Koehler's claim that he is not guilty of the crimes was not an official plea entered into the court system.

[...]

Miami-Dade authorities were not discussing the high-profile case or Koehler's suspected connections to the dozens of sexual assaults stretching back to the 1980s.

“We will be having a conference call with the State Attorney’s Office to determine the next step,” said Argemis Colome, a detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department.

He also said the agency was working to release more information about the warrant leading to Koehler's arrest.

Pillowcase Rapist Suspect Robert Eugene Koehler at Brevard Jail

 

[Legally Bland]

It looks like this was a familial DNA hit in CODIS. The arrest warrant has one victim and two counts of sexual battery.

The man police believe is the cold-case "Pillowcase Rapist" who terrorized women in Miami in the early 1980s was arrested in central Florida after a chance hit on a DNA database.

According to the arrest report filed in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, detectives connected DNA from a rape kit after 60-year-old Robert Eugene Koehler's son was arrested.

Police arrest 'Pillowcase rapist' after chance DNA hit

READ: 'Pillowcase rapist' arrest warrant

 

[PayrollNerd]

It looks like this was a familial DNA hit in CODIS. The arrest warrant has one victim and two counts of sexual battery.

The man police believe is the cold-case "Pillowcase Rapist" who terrorized women in Miami in the early 1980s was arrested in central Florida after a chance hit on a DNA database.

According to the arrest report filed in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, detectives connected DNA from a rape kit after 60-year-old Robert Eugene Koehler's son was arrested.

Police arrest 'Pillowcase rapist' after chance DNA hit

READ: 'Pillowcase rapist' arrest warrant

Well, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I hope the familial DNA tactic puts more criminals behind bars.

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about this case:

Sun Sentinel - We are currently unavailable in your region

 

[stephlovescheese]

It looks like this was a familial DNA hit in CODIS. The arrest warrant has one victim and two counts of sexual battery.

The man police believe is the cold-case "Pillowcase Rapist" who terrorized women in Miami in the early 1980s was arrested in central Florida after a chance hit on a DNA database.

According to the arrest report filed in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, detectives connected DNA from a rape kit after 60-year-old Robert Eugene Koehler's son was arrested.

Police arrest 'Pillowcase rapist' after chance DNA hit

READ: 'Pillowcase rapist' arrest warrant

Very interesting how his DNA was obtained and confirmed. I noticed at the end of the warrant, victim states she’d never engaged in consensual sex with him and that he was a stranger to her. What it doesn’t say is that she identified him as her attacker. I understand so much time had lapsed and she may have never gotten a good look at him- I see his counsel having a hay day with this. But the DNA speaks for itself. So glad this monster was caught.

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about this case from CNN:

Investigators believe 'Pillowcase rapist' possibly in custody, report says - CNN

Here is another report this time from the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/crim...capture-decades-then-police-got-his-sons-dna/

 

[Niner]

Docket:
Seq. No. Date Book/Page Docket

9 01/23/2020
DEFENSE ATTY PDEF/FITZPATRICK, COLIN

8 01/23/2020
FIRST APPEARANCE/BOND HEARING/RESET: BOND HEARING

7 01/23/2020
FIRST APPEARANCE/BOND HEARING/RESET: BOND HEARING

6 01/23/2020
FIRST APPEARANCE/BOND HEARING - A.M.

1 01/21/2020
INTAKE ATTY ASSIGNED: ADAMS, LAURA

link: Miami-Dade County Clerk Criminal Justice

 

[Niner]

Thursday, January 23rd:
*Bond Hearing (@ am ET) - FL – “Pillowcase Rapist” – 44 victims (May, 1981 to Feb. 1986, Miami to Deerfield Beach) - *Robert Eugene Koehler aka Robert Eugene Koeholer (60/22 @ time of 1st crime) – arrested (1/18/20) & held at Brevard County to await transfer to Miami-Dade County. Charged (1/21/20) with 2 counts of sexual battery with weapon causing serious injuries.
Convicted sex offender for a sexual battery conviction in 1991. Familial DNA hit in CODIS (after his son was arrested).
1/21/20 Update: Initial appearance before Judge. Koehler's claim that he is not guilty of the crimes was not an official plea entered into the court system. The arrest warrant has one victim & two counts of sexual battery re a 12/28/83 sexual assault which matches evidence of the rape kit. Attorney assigned: Laura Adams. Bond hearing on 1/23/20.

 

[PayrollNerd]

OMG

Officials believe they've found the 'Pillowcase Rapist.' The suspect was building a 'dungeon' beneath his home, officials say
Pillowcase Rapist: Officials believe they've found man who terrorized South Florida in the 1980s - CNN

Investigators searched Koehler's home, underneath which they found an excavated area where they believe Koehler was building "a dungeon," Miami-Dade County Prosecutor Laura Adams said.

"We feared very much that if we had not gotten him into custody that he may have had other plans even worse than what he executed on all of these women from these cases," Adams said.

Several safes were found, one of which contained jewelry and trinkets authorities believe could be souvenirs from his victims, Adams said. They also located a metal nail file wrapped in protective covering that Adams said could have been used as a weapon in many of the Pillowcase Rapist cases.

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about this case:

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2020/01/23/prosecutor-dna-match-leads-to-florida-pillowcase-rapist/

Another one:

‘Pillowcase Rapist,’ Who Terrorized Florida in the 1980s, Has Been Caught, Officials Say

One more report:

Prosecutors link Palm Bay man to two dozen 'Pillowcase' rapes, 'makeshift dungeon,' as detectives search for any Brevard victims

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Robert Koehler, 60, was arrested over the weekend and was being held without bond Thursday in a Miami jail. He faces charges in one assault though authorities said as many as 25 victims could be involved.

The “pillowcase rapist” was so named because he used a pillowcase or other fabric to cover the faces of his terrified victims, usually after he had broken into an apartment or townhome, according to investigators. The assaults, often carried out at knifepoint, took place between 1981 and 1986 and had put South Florida on edge.
Prosecutor: DNA Match Leads to Florida ‘Pillowcase Rapist’

 

[Niner]

If he is a sex offender - would LE not have his DNA on file??

 

[Medstudies]

OMG

Officials believe they've found the 'Pillowcase Rapist.' The suspect was building a 'dungeon' beneath his home, officials say
Pillowcase Rapist: Officials believe they've found man who terrorized South Florida in the 1980s - CNN

Investigators searched Koehler's home, underneath which they found an excavated area where they believe Koehler was building "a dungeon," Miami-Dade County Prosecutor Laura Adams said.

"We feared very much that if we had not gotten him into custody that he may have had other plans even worse than what he executed on all of these women from these cases," Adams said.

Several safes were found, one of which contained jewelry and trinkets authorities believe could be souvenirs from his victims, Adams said. They also located a metal nail file wrapped in protective covering that Adams said could have been used as a weapon in many of the Pillowcase Rapist cases.

RBBM

Well thank g-d for the DNA hit. The evidence is damning

 

[jaejae]

Here is a report from the Independent about this case:

Serial 'pillowcase rapist' suspect was building a 'dungeon' before arrest

Another report:

Florida 'Pillowcase Rapist' case cracked with DNA from suspect's son: prosecutors

One more report from the Daily Mail:

'Pillowcase rapist' suspect, 60, was building a DUNGEON under his house when he was arrested | Daily Mail Online

 

[jaejae]

Here is another recent report about this case:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article239523948.html

Another report:

Prosecutor: DNA match leads to Florida 'pillowcase rapist'

Another report:

No Bond For Accused 'Pillowcase Rapist'

One more report:

No Bond For Accused 'Pillowcase Rapist'

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report from Miami Herald:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article239523948.html

 

[jaejae]

Here is a Podcast which features the identification of a possible suspect in this case:

Pillowcase Rapist - identified - Melissa Peskey update - Kristin Smart.

 

[Niner]

Seq. No. Date Book/Page Docket
20 01/28/2020
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 02/12/2020 AT 09:00

19 01/24/2020
WAIVER OF PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE

18 01/24/2020
DEMAND FOR TRIAL BY JURY

17 01/24/2020
NOTICE OF DISCOVERY

16 01/24/2020
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF APPOINTMENT & WRITTEN PLEA OF NOT GUILTY

15 01/23/2020
DEFENSE ATTY PDEF/BIZUNE, CLAUDIA

link; Miami-Dade County Clerk Criminal Justice

 

[PayrollNerd]

18 01/24/2020
DEMAND FOR TRIAL BY JURY

LOL - that just cracks me up...... DNA karma is gonna strike hard.

 

[Niner]

Some changes on the docket.

Docket:
28 02/11/2020
TRIAL UNIT ASSIGNED: FELONY DIVISION 09

27 02/11/2020
TRIAL PROS. ASSIGNED: ADAMS, LAURA

26 02/11/2020
TRIAL HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 04/13/2020 AT 09:00

25 02/11/2020
REPORT RE: PLEA/SOUNDING SET FOR 04/02/2020 AT 09:00

24 02/11/2020
INFORMATION FILED

23 01/28/2020
ORDER: KEPT SEPERATE FROM INMATES ONCE RETURNED TO THE JAIL

21 01/29/2020
REPORT RE: JUDICIAL REVIEW SET FOR 01/30/2020 AT 09:00

20 02/10/2020
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 02/11/2020 AT 09:00


Hearing Date: 04/02/2020 Hearing Time: 09:00

link: Miami-Dade County Clerk Criminal Justice


Really strange - on the last docket entry - Arraignment - first had him on 2/12 (post #38) & I see they now have changed it to 2/11. Guess he had that yesterday as the next hearing says 4/2.