51-Year-Old Man Arrested for Allegedly Raping Autistic Young Woman in Bat Yam

A 51-year-old resident of Bat Yam is suspected of raping an 18-year-old woman diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The incident reportedly took place last Thursday after the suspect approached the victim alone at an Aroma café in Bat Yam, posing as a massage therapist. He allegedly convinced her to accompany him to an hourly rental apartment where he committed the assault and sodomy using violence.

The victim's brother, who was searching for her with family members, called her during the incident and heard her frightened voice. Upon confronting the suspect, the man reportedly responded defensively, claiming, "What do you want? She's a normal girl." The suspect then fled, leaving the victim alone and disoriented. The victim sent her location via Waze to her brother, enabling police to find and escort her to file a complaint, where bloodstains were observed on her body.

Thanks to security camera footage and the victim's quick thinking, police from the Ayalon district tracked down and arrested the suspect in an open area. The police are seeking to extend his detention during ongoing investigations. The victim's attorney, Gabi Lieberman, emphasized the suspect's exploitation of the victim's intellectual disability, stating he ignored clear signs that she could not give informed consent and used violence and manipulation to commit the crimes. She praised the victim's courage in aiding the suspect's capture and called on authorities to ensure justice is served and send a message to predators targeting vulnerable populations.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court for a hearing on the extension of his detention.