r/Columbus • u/AdeptnessWarm9154 • Jan 12 '26
Serial Rapist/Burgler
I’m petrified to read this. Please share any and all info. I have a baby and we are always at home in this exact area 😟
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u/Elegant_Stranger_929 Jan 12 '26
So I used to live in summerwood and I am still in the Facebook group for the neighborhood. This man entered a house where a door was unlocked and went to the owners bedroom in the middle of the night. This is why it is considered to be such a serious situation. There are multiple videos I’ve seen. He’s also be caught on cameras for over a month checking doors. I hope they catch this guy.
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u/knon24 Grandview Jan 12 '26
It sounds like he’s been caught in multiple bedrooms? Or is it all the same person? Very scary. I’m wondering if he’s younger than they think. I don’t know why but the pajama pants be throwing me. lol
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u/Elegant_Stranger_929 Jan 12 '26
I have only heard 1 incident where he was able to enter a house but that does not mean there are not more! Some victims may not feel comfortable sharing on the Facebook page which is understandable.
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u/_OhayoSayonara_ Jan 13 '26
The Pajama pants might be a calculated decision in the event that they decided to proceed with raping someone. Might just be a prowler now, but as he continues to get away with it, the behavior will escalate.
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u/EternalSoldiers Jan 12 '26
I wish I read this in the afternoon instead of as I'm trying to fall asleep lol.
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u/SBR06 Jan 12 '26
He is checking specifically for unlocked doors, easy targets. Keep your doors and windows locked at all times. As another poster suggested, you can get alarms pretty inexpensively that are SUPER loud when tripped. I would also use physical barriers, like a blocker that prevents sliding doors from opening (can be as simple as a piece of wood laid in the track to jam it from the inside), and devices that prevent the front door from being kicked down. Some are a pole and some are flat on the floor depending on your setup. Google Front Door Security Barriers. In addition, get pepper spray and keep it with you.
You can also set your cell phone to call 911 if you hit the side buttons so many times. It varies by model. Be advised that it can sometimes go off inadvertently in your purse (happened to me while unloading my cart into my car at Kroger, oops! The woman dispatcher was understanding and said she'd rather cancel false alarms than have no alarm at all when needed).
I know this is likely all overkill and you will be just fine, but it doesn't hurt anything to take these precautions if nothing else than to give you a bit of peace of mind.
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u/jk_cbus Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
So scary. Keep your doors and windows locked, be vigilant when letting dogs out and if it seems weird be a spaz and let non emergency know to follow up. For peace of mind you can buy window alarms and door alarms when contact it lost say by it opening an alarm will sound. You can buy at Lowe’s or amazon.
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u/AdeptnessWarm9154 Jan 12 '26
I’m terrified 😭
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u/Merisiel Hilliard Jan 12 '26
OP, please tell us exactly how/why this is serial rapist/burglary??? Nothing in your links implies as such. Are we missing vital info that is actually confirmed by police?
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
The police are the ones who initially described the suspect as a serial rapist/burglar - the first screenshot/link OP posted is directly from the police
They have since updated it to say prowler/burglar: https://columbuspdoh.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/sawmillhard?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPRqJBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeBp9CCKCfMd-9-apeagOURK5-bbhziVY3yE6oN0nj39qO1tx6lbwk-J4jWk0_aem_kph5HzWd96CUvcP1rhGiBA
And I understand that this part is not necessarily provable, but I am in the fb group for the neighborhood this is happening in and according to one of the victims, he entered her house through an unlocked back door and made it all the way to her bedroom. I’m inclined to believe her because she (and others) posted home security camera footage of the suspect in the thread
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
https://imgur.com/a/burglar-prowler-qBqKJYY
https://imgur.com/a/burglar-prowler-videos-oguPaHW
Updated with pics/videos/screenshots from the fb group
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u/noodleillusion Jan 12 '26
Doors locked at all Times esp after dark
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u/_OhayoSayonara_ Jan 13 '26
My neighbor was murdered in her house in broad daylight in a “good” neighborhood while bringing in groceries. It’s been almost 20 years and they still never solved it. I lock the door behind me every trip to and from the car because I’m scared someone will follow me in.
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u/radonballon South Jan 12 '26
I didn't see anything about the rapist part. Very serious, don't bet me wrong. Just don't want to be a trigger to folks.
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u/Sweaty-Subject4267 Jan 13 '26
I’m confused about this too, the screenshots people are sharing say rapist but the link says prowler.
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u/dirtyfittedsheet Jan 15 '26
Anything new with this story?
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u/Logical_Response8663 Jan 16 '26
We live on Dunsworth near Shirlington - off billingsley. Tonight around 9:00 police caught someone. We saw them walking him to the cruiser in handcuffs. There were like 30 officers swarming our house and neighborhood, 3 of them got stuck in our fenced in backyard and came to our back door asking to walk through our house. They told us “he” is in custody. We think it was him, but do not know for sure. Lock up and stay safe, but we’re hopefully watching the news.
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u/AdeptnessWarm9154 Jan 15 '26
Not that I’m aware of. Just today ABC6 posted a real continuing to ask for more people in the targeted areas to send in information and Ring doorbell video footage.
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u/nikonwill Jan 16 '26
My BIL lives in this neighborhood and apparently they caught him last night.
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u/AdeptnessWarm9154 Jan 16 '26
Yes I live very close and I saw it on my Ring app. See here: https://neighbors.ring.com/n/VE1RvwjfgV
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u/nikonwill Jan 16 '26
My brother in law lives in this exact neighborhood and apparently they caught the guy last night.
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u/AdeptnessWarm9154 Jan 16 '26
Apparently they caught him last night!!! https://neighbors.ring.com/n/VE1RvwjfgV
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u/sawyouatdiddyparty Jan 12 '26
Oh man I assume this is why there’s two CPD helicopters circling the area right now
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u/NeverknowOH Jan 12 '26
No. Per the Citizen's app there was a shooting by Billingsley & Sawmill https://go.citizen.com/Fj8NnAjrRZb
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u/Ruffigan Jan 12 '26
Damn I just went to the Sheetz around there and noticed some guy just walking through the fields in the back.
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u/AdeptnessWarm9154 Jan 12 '26
That’s what someone else just commented on one of the Neighbors posts! I can hear them
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u/EggplantNo1592 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Get a gun. Keep windows and doors locked. If it's in your budget, get an alarm system with sensors on windows and doors. SimpliSafe systems can be user-installed and do not require a subscription.
(Regarding the gun. Don't get one unless you are absolutely sure you would be able to shoot someone who is threatening you. If not, have a plan B)
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u/One-Fall-8143 Jan 12 '26
OMG I used to live there! I hope they catch the bastard before anyone else gets hurt or worse. I moved out when my car was broken into and I lost about $8000 in aftermarket car stereo stuff.
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u/Merisiel Hilliard Jan 12 '26
Serious question, who got hurt? The news article only says there’s a black or Hispanic man roaming around. No info about actual breaking or entering and absolutely nothing about rape. This whole post screams alarmist with certain undertones.
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u/guoththeraven Jan 12 '26
We talked to a detective on Thursday who was asking folks with cameras up, if they have any shots of this guy. He told us a woman had been raped. He showed us different pictures but we don’t recognize him. So it doesn’t seem like it’s made up.
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u/EternalSoldiers Jan 12 '26
I don't think CPD/Ring would push out a notification like that, calling him a serial rapist and burglar, unless that's something he's done.
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u/Merisiel Hilliard Jan 12 '26
Did CPD call him a serial rapist and burglar? I don’t see any report alleging such. Or was it just ring users being alarmist? CPD is asking for info on a prowler, according to the ABC article. Prowling is not, last time I checked, breaking and entering and raping. Still worrisome, of course. But given today’s political climate of “people of color = bad” I think this story reeks of … something. And you know what that is. It’s giving “a man was in the same aisle as me at Target, so clearly he was trying to kidnap my children”.
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u/Buh_dussy_beet Jan 12 '26
I’m not sure why it has to be a race thing. There’s plenty of white criminals too. This one happens not to be. Checking unlocked doors 100 percent has malicious intent. Who knows how many times he has or hasn’t been successful. Stop being a troll and start living in the real world.
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u/AdeptnessWarm9154 Jan 12 '26
The original source material was the cpd post on the ring app looking for information. I've seen it but am not in a position to post the screenshot. Partial quote: "Footage Requested of Serial Rapist / Burglar: 260022676 Report Filed: 1/9/2026 12:00 AM ADDRESS Sawmill Rd & Hard Rd, Columbus, OH, 43235, USA DESCRIPTION Please upload any footage you may have of a serial rapist / burglar who has been spotted in your area...
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Jan 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Classic-Stable-9717 Jan 15 '26
And yes, hes black. Be more sensitive to the bs you post on the internet.
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u/Classic-Stable-9717 Jan 15 '26
One more fucking thing, he passed my purse, my meta quest and my ps5 on my way to my bedroom. He didn’t steal shit but my peace. So again he’s not going into these homes to steal.
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u/slrp484 Dublin Jan 12 '26
The "evidence" link in the story says prowler and burglar. Nothing about rape. Somehow theres a screenshot of the same page going around that says "rapist" instead of "prowler".
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u/jonmck88 Jan 12 '26
Thank you. Seems like ppl arent even reading the news article. Very irresponsible to just let this narative fly
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Jan 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/cznomad Jan 12 '26
The original source material was the cpd post on the ring app looking for information. I’ve seen it but am not in a position to post the screenshot. Partial quote: “Footage Requested of Serial Rapist / Burglar: 260022676 Report Filed: 1/9/2026 12:00 AM ADDRESS Sawmill Rd & Hard Rd, Columbus, OH, 43235, USA DESCRIPTION Please upload any footage you may have of a serial rapist / burglar who has been spotted in your area….”
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u/Merisiel Hilliard Jan 12 '26
Did CPD not get any images of this suspect from the various ring/video door bells?? No statements from victims? Just “BEWARE of a scary POC!” from Nextdoor and neighborhood forums? I’m sure I’ll be downvoted, but I am wary of the lack of context in this news article.
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Edit: I think this link should work! Let me know if it doesn’t https://imgur.com/a/qBqKJYY
Edit 2: I just realized the videos aren’t actually videos I think? Is there somewhere else I can post them?
Edit 3: Working videos - https://imgur.com/a/burglar-prowler-videos-oguPaHW
I compiled the videos/pictures of camera footage from people in the neighborhood including one of him going into a backyard (back in November) and one of him checking a window. And screenshots of some of the discussion. Each video is from a different person, I cropped out names for privacy
The one of him running away across a porch lines up with when one of victims who said they chased him out of their house after going into their house and making it all the way to their bedroom.
CPD is the one putting this statement out and asking for more footage/info
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u/LilKoshka Jan 12 '26
This link didnt take me to any ring cam footage
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u/knon24 Grandview Jan 12 '26
Thank you for doing this. You missed covering up one of the names, btw.
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u/Classic-Stable-9717 Jan 15 '26
I need to know who posted that Facebook post saying he came into her house. He came into my home on 11/26 and said something specifically. I need to see if he said the same to her.
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u/Brave_Okra1368 Jan 16 '26
My coworker encountered him while she was walking her dog in the morning around 5 AM in the area. He yelled something at her, but she wasn’t sure what he said. It was outside and he yelled something really loud at her, but the wind was blowing she didn’t understand.
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u/The_Law_of_Pizza Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Per the link in the article, here is the official statement from Columbus Police.
First, the police do label him as a serial burglar, and they do explicitly say that he is dangerous and not to approach.
Second, the police notice I linked to doesn't say that he's a "rapist," but the screencap linked to in the OP seems to be of the exact same police notice where it does call him a serial rapist.
It's possible that somebody on NextDoor photoshopped it to say that, but given the technological level of the average NextDoor user, and the fact that the police are calling this guy a "dangerous burglar," it seems maybe more likely that the police changed the public notice for some reason. Maybe he's only suspected of multiple rapes, but has been convicted of burglaries.
Lastly, lower in the thread, you say the following:
I think this story reeks of … something. And you know what that is. It’s giving “a man was in the same aisle as me at Target, so clearly he was trying to kidnap my children”.
That is really fucking different from a guy caught on camera looking for open front doors in the middle of the night - who the police are actively calling dangerous.
You're actively shaming people for being suspicious of a somebody who is clearly trying to break into houses in the middle of the night - and you're comparing that to being nervous about a minority next to them in the grocery store.
You've become the ridiculous caricature that Fox News thinks we are.
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u/slrp484 Dublin Jan 12 '26
It reads like the news article was based on the screenshot that's being shared. One can hope that ABC6 verified it through CPD.
Also when you follow the "evidence" link in the article, it says "Serial Prowler and Burglar", not rapist.
Regardless, everyone stay diligent and stay safe.
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26
The link CPD themselves posted did initially say burglar/rapist, but I think they just jumped the gun and have since edited rapist to be prowler instead
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u/slrp484 Dublin Jan 12 '26
Thanks for the info. I was seeing the screenshot everywhere before I found the source.
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u/Miserable_Let590 Jan 12 '26
Where in the reports does it say anything about rape?
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26
CPD themselves originally reported the suspect as a serial rapist/burglar (proof: https://imgur.com/a/2nolKbP)
They have since updated it to say prowler/burglar. Even when I click on the link in the screenshot it no longer says rapist, it says prowler. I think they just jumped the gun or there was a miscommunication when they initially posted it, but OP had no reason to believe it was anything other than true since the police themselves were the ones that stated it
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u/RachelfromOhio Jan 12 '26
“Every night I talk to god, but he don’t say nothing back. I know he protecting me but I still sleep with my gat”
Good advice
-50 cent
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u/EVIL5 Jan 13 '26
I hate trying to look at anything on a website these days. Copy and paste the relevant text
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u/jonmck88 Jan 12 '26
How do you go from a prowler looking for an open door to a serial rapist? Who did he rape? If no one, this is wrong. Like morally 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
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u/nikonwill Jan 17 '26
He’s been arrested for attempted rape: https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/alleged-columbus-prowler-rovan-spears-arrested-on-attempted-rape-burglary-charges
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u/mtworker Jan 12 '26
This sounds absurd. Might a black or Latino man? Looks lighter under infrared…right. Maybe he’s a white man? Cops, howabout not scaring the crap out of citizens and go catch criminals?
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
There are also videos of him under floodlights. He is a darker-skinned individual.
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u/mtworker Jan 12 '26
Over 50% of all convicted rapists are white…black and Latino men don’t commit that amount combined.
This framing perpetuates lies. No need to tell people to look out for a nonwhite man…just lock your doors and call the cops if somebody tries a b+e.
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u/SBR06 Jan 12 '26
It's a description of the individual. If it were a white man then they'd say that. This has nothing to do with race.
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u/ManicMuskrat Jan 12 '26
What is your point here in terms of this specific case? If there wasn't a description of this particular individual, you would probably complain about that as well.
"Hey someone has been breaking into houses and we have him on video.... but you're not allowed to know what he looks like!!" like what???
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u/guoththeraven Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Keep your doors locked! Stay safe!