Man allegedly raped woman he picked up outside club
A Lake View man was ordered held on $ 5 million bail Tuesday for allegedly raping an “intoxicated and disoriented” woman he picked up outside the now- closed Castle Chicago nightclub three years ago.
Investigators learned recently through the DNA database that there was a strong association between Robert Walters’ DNA and the DNA that was found on the victim, Cook County prosecutors said.
The woman also was able to identify Walters, 43, in a photo array this month, authorities said.
The victim, then 21, had reported the incident immediately after Walters took her to his apartment in the 600 block of West Diversey Place and attacked her as she went in and out of consciousness, Assistant State’s Attorney Holly Grosshans said.
Earlier, the woman had been drinking with friends at the River North nightclub on April 14, 2013, Grosshans said.
When she went outside to hail a cab, she fell and cut her knee, Grosshans said.
Walters offered her a ride, Grosshans said. The woman initially refused but agreed after Walters persisted that she come in his car, Grosshans said.
She was so drunk, Walters had to physically pick her up and put her in his car because she couldn’t stand up, Grosshans said.
The woman went in and out of consciousness during the ride, and when she awoke, she found herself in front of a building that wasn’t hers.
She told Walters she didn’t live there, and he allegedly told her they’d be making a pit stop.
The woman wouldn’t go with Walters, but he opened the car door, removed her seat belt, pulled her out, dragged her into his apartment and pulled her up the stairs to his bedroom loft, injuring her left ankle, Grosshans said.
Walters pulled off the woman’s clothes, dropped her on the bed and sexually assaulted her, Grosshans said.
Walters eventually dragged the woman back to his car and drove her home, Grosshans said. The woman was able to crawl up the stairs and into her apartment. The woman went to a hospital where a rape kit was collected.
Walters was arrested at his home on Monday.
Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. said the attack was “vicious and violent.”
Walters was charged with aggravated kidnapping and criminal sexual assault.