Dudley man will face rape, kidnap charges
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on June 24, 2008 1:46 PM
A meeting between a Dudley man and a woman he knew allegedly turned into a kidnapping and repeated rape at his home, authorities said.
Wayne County Sheriff's Office Capt. Tom Effler said Elmer Berkley Jr., 56, of Beaver Drive, faces one count each of first-degree kidnapping and rape.
Detec-tives did not provide further details about the rape victim, other than to say that evidence showed Berkley's alleged rapes are "definitely a legitimate case," Effler said.
The Sheriff's Office said the woman managed to escape from Berkley around 7 p.m. on Thursday, then telephoned authorities.
The investigation into the alleged rape began on Friday and ended today when the Sheriff's Office announced Berkley's arrest.
Detectives did not provide details on how or to where the woman escaped. But Detective Sgt. Rick Farfour's report shows that Berkley was in custody about an hour after the woman's report.
The alleged repeated forcible rapes are believed to have taken place at Berkley's home late Wednesday night and Thursday.
The Sheriff's Office captain said he believed Berkley knew the woman, and she may have been in his company willingly at first.
"I think they were acquaintances," Effler said. "It just got out of hand, and she got more than she (bargained) for."
Detectives said that follow-up interviews and physical evidence substantiated the victim's report to authorities.
A magistrate set a $200,000 bond for Berkley after the arrest, Effler said.