Suspect is arrested in sexual assault of 77-year-old nursing home resident

Nearly a year after releasing surveillance footage in a public plea for help, sheriff ’s deputies on Wednesday arrested a man accused of raping a 77-year-old woman in a west Harris County elder care home.

The arrest comes a day after Bryan Arellano Monasterio was indicted on three felony charges, including two counts of aggravated assault of an elderly or disabled person and one count of aggravated robbery of a person over 65. It was a DNA hit that ultimately helped deputies zero in on the 28-year-old as a suspect in the nighttime attack.

“This defendant hurt and purposely humiliated this elderly victim,” said District Attorney Kim Ogg. “We look forward to a jury’s verdict on this despicable act.”

On the evening of Oct. 1, about 8 p.m., an unidentified man in dark sunglasses walked through an unlocked outer door and into the lobby of a nursing home in the 13800 block of Canyon Hill in the Alief area, investigators said.

After ripping open a locked inner door, he got on the elevator and rode up to the victim’s floor. Posing as a maintenance man, the attacker knocked at the 77year-old’s apartment and covered up the peephole.

“She didn’t see anybody,” said Harris County Sheriff ’s Office Investigator Cynthia Routh, “so she cracked the door.”

The elderly woman lived alone and it appears she was targeted, Routh said, though authorities didn’t give any hint as to why.

Once inside the apartment, the attacker allegedly dragged his victim into the bedroom and raped her. Though he was unarmed, he threatened to kill her if she made noise.

Within 20 minutes, he stole $160 and left the woman’s apartment, authorities said. Surveillance cameras caught him running from the building, still wearing a disguise to conceal his appearance.

In the aftermath of the attack, investigators turned to the public for help, putting out pleas through Crime Stoppers and offering a $5,000 reward. Within a few days, they got their first tip. A few weeks later, Routh said, a second person came forward to identify the alleged attacker.

Earlier this year, authorities got a warrant to take a DNA sample from the man identified as the suspect. The tests identified Monasterio as a possible suspect, acccording to authorities. He was arrested early Wednesday at his parents’ home.

Because of the victim’s age, the charges were bumped up to first-degree felonies with a possible life term, and prosecutors filed a request for high bond.

“This is a crime of extreme violence,” the bond motion reads. “This defendant specifically targeted an individual based on age and race. He violated her in multiple ways. He is a flight risk based on a tip that the charging deputy believes is viable that the defendant’s family was trying to raise money to send the defendant to Mexico.”

Monasterio does not have a record of past violent crimes, Routh said. He was charged with forgery several years ago.

He did not have an attorney late Wednesday.