Teens Charged In Rape Of Classmate; Female Acquaintance Investigated As Possible Mastermind
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Police have arrested two teen boys, and are working to identify a third suspect accused of kidnapping and raping one of their female classmates.
17-year-old Edgar Natanal Chicas-Hernandez and 19-year-old Victor Antonio Gonzalez-Guttierres have been charged with kidnapping, first-degree rape, sodomy, and first and second-degree assault. Bail has been denied for both suspects.
A "younger female acquaintance" of the alleged victim was also identified as the suspected mastermind of the crime.
The Frederick Police Department began investigating on September 5, when officers met with a teenage girl who said she had been raped in the overnight hours of September 1.
The girl said she was opening the door to her boyfriend's home, when she was grabbed from behind by her hair. She reported there were three suspects, two of whom she recognized as classmates, Chicas-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Guttierres.
The suspects then took her cell phone and dragged her to a nearby vehicle, where they forced a rag into her mouth, and drove her to an apartment, according to the alleged victim.
The suspects reportedly told the girl they were acting on orders from a "younger female acquaintance."
The girl told police that over the next few hours, she was raped by Chicas-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Guttierres, while the third suspect filmed. The victim told police the third suspect covered his face.
Following the rape, the girl told police the suspects took her back to where they had initially taken her, and told her that if she called police, "next time it will be worse."
"It was heartbreaking, you know, to hear something like this. Especially in such a nice city and quiet area. We take all these incidents very seriously. We put all of our resources we have at that time to cases like this," said Sergeant Andrew Alcorn of the Frederick Police Department.
During their investigation of the crime, police found social media messages from an account associated with the "younger female acquaintance" that had offered someone footage of the rape for "[one] night of pleasure."
Police say a trail of messages on Instagram from the suspected "younger female acquaintance" invited other teens to take part and said the crimes would be "fun."
"That known acquaintance communicated with the suspects both before and after the incident, in reference to the incident, using social media and things like that," Sergeant Alcorn said.
Detectives also report finding another message that outlined the "younger female acquaintance's" plan to extort the victim for money.
Police questioned the "younger female acquaintance" about her role in the crime, and she said Chicas-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Guttierres would tell investigators she told them to commit the crime, but denied any involvement.
She told police that there were several fake social media accounts associated with her name, but they did not belong to her. She isn't facing any charges at this time.
The Frederick-News Post reports there were possible gang affiliations mentioned for both Chicas-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Guttierres in the charging documents. Police are investigating, but have not identified either as a "validated gang member" at this time.
Police are continuing to investigate, and are working to identify the third suspect accused of raping the teen girl.
Chicas-Hernandez was charged as an adult because of the severity of the crimes.
The Frederick Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify the third sub involved in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call (301) 600-2102. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact the department at (301) 600-TIPS (8477), text at 240-674-TIPS (8477), or email fpdcrimetip@frederickmdpolice.org.
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