Man Arrested In Connection With Sexual Assault Of Paralyzed Woman

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/12/24/man-arrested-in-connection-with-sexual-assault-of-paralyzed-woman/

The victim’s friend tells CBS13 she heard the victim’s cries for help.

Investigators tell CBS13 what makes this crime so heinous is that suspect, allegedly posing as a maintenance man, sexually assaulted a defenseless and paralyzed woman.

“And before I can open my window, I could hear her cry, which pierced every bone in my body,” said Bonita Thomas, a friend of the victim.

Thomas says the screams for help from her friend shook her to the core. Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies say the brutal attack happened at an apartment on Power Inn Road over the weekend.

Late at night, Abraham Arroyo allegedly knocked on the victim’s door, pretending to be someone else.

“The male voice on the other side said he was the maintenance worker,” said Sgt. Lisa Bowman, a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Dept. spokesperson.

Wheelchair-bound and paralyzed from the waist down, the 62-year-old victim told Arroyo to come back in the morning.

“At which time he forced his way in by breaking a window,” said Sgt. Bowman.

The victim was unable to call 911.

“He took her cellphone from her and basically dragged her out of her wheelchair and sexually assaulted her right there in the middle of her apartment,” said Sgt. Bowman.

“It was creepy,” said Thomas.

The attacker then ran off.

Neighbors heard the screams.

“I could hear her crying, saying: ‘He beat me. He raped me.’ And I was like, oh my God,” said Thompson.

Investigators say the victim doesn’t even know the Arroyo, but apparently he often visits a friend at the complex. He was arrested just days later.

The victim may have to see him again in court.

“That’s a strong woman — stronger than I could ever be,” said Thomas.

The suspect agreed to speak with CBS13 from behind bars, but changed his mind at the last minute.

Arroyo is being held on $1 million bail.