Arrest made in rape of 88-year-old woman
Suspect, 21, believed to be a serial rapist involved in other crimes
Prosecutors on Thursday raised the possibility that a 21-year-old man accused of raping an 88-year-old woman at a senior living complex earlier this month could be a serial rapist.
Justin Glenn Ellis was arrested Tuesday at a different senior living complex and charged with sexual assault of the elderly, a first-degree felony.
“He is a suspect in several other crimes involving the same sort of circumstances,” said prosecutor Kristina Roberts.
She asked that anyone with information about Ellis or possible crimes to contact authorities.
He is believed to have attacked the elderly woman on June 11 as she lay in bed and watched television inside of the complex off of Buffalo Speedway, according to the release.
The woman first realized there was an intruder when she saw a shadow near her bathroom. The intruder — believed to be Ellis — likely crept in through an open window in the bathroom, according to sworn statements from Houston police officers.
Roberts said the suspect was homeless and was often seen in that area near West University.
The woman told Ellis to leave her apartment, according to court documents. Then, she tried to get out of bed.
Ellis is believed to have attacked her, throwing her back onto the bed and tearing her clothes, according to court documents.
Ellis tried to smother her with a pillow, according to court documents.
“Do you like this?” Ellis is believed to have repeatedly asked the woman during the suspected assault.
It was unclear in court documents how the woman alerted authorities to the rape and how Ellis escaped from the woman’s apartment undetected.
If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
The latest charge comes after Ellis pleaded guilty to a string of misdemeanors since 2013, including 11 charges of criminal trespassing, according to court documents.
Most recently, Ellis served 30 days in the Harris County Jail for criminal trespassing on May 3.
“Our elderly must be protected,” said Assistant District Attorney JoAnne Musick, chief of the sex crimes unit. “Since that horrific attack, we have been actively working with Houston police to collect evidence, identify the suspect, and file charges.”
He is being held in the Harris County Jail with bail set at $200,000.
Authorities are asking anyone with any information about Ellis to contact the Houston Police Department’s Adult Sex Crime Division at 713-3081180 or the Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s Sex Crimes Unit at 713-2740150.