Crime & Safety

East Coast Rapist Suspect Arrives in Prince William

Aaron Thomas, suspected of a series of attacks on women along the East Coast, was transferred to Prince William County Tuesday to face trial.

Accused "East Coast Rapist" Aaron Thomas arrived in Prince William County Tuesday to face trial for allegedly sexually assaulting three teenage girls in Dale City in 2009.

Thomas was from New Haven, Conn., where he was . Officials say they have linked him to 12 attacks on women along the East Coast dating back to 1997.

In the Dale City incident on Oct. 31, 2009, a man approached three girls on their way home from a night of trick-or-treating. Police reports from the incident state that the suspect raped two of the girls and assaulted the other. One of the victims, a 16-year-old girl used her cell phone to text her mother and call for help during the attack. The suspect fled after police closed in.

Find out what's happening in Dale Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Prince William County Police have posted a video of Thomas's custody transfer on the department's Facebook page.

Thomas will face his first court appearance in Prince William County Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. at the Prince William County Circuit Court in Manassas.

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