Herman Ray Whitfield, 43, is charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of aggravated sexual assault with a child. He is now in prison, convicted of kidnapping in 1995. He was paroled in 2006, but was sent back to prison for a parole violation in 2009.
Investigators say Whitfield committed sexual assaults in the Sunnyside area of Houston from 1992 to 1994 and again from 2006 until 2009. Victims, they say, ranged in age from 12 to 30. Three of the four were students at a school nearby.
"He choked them, would use force to bring them down, choke 'em. He was just a very violent individual," HPD Sgt. John Colburn said.
The attacks reportedly occurred on trails, in bushes, in vacant lots and vacant houses on the following dates and locations:
December 15, 1992 - 4300 Alvin
February 16, 1993 - 4300 Alvin
August 30, 1993 - 4400 Wilmington
June 11, 2008 - 4300 Wilmington
Investigators say they obtained a DNA sample from Whitfield, which positively identified him as the suspect in these cases, and one of them is believed to have occurred while he was out on parole.
Police believe there still could be more victims.
"We're not sure how many cases we may have out there, victims might have not reported in incident. So we're seeking assistance so we can get the word out there," Colburn said.
Houston police are asking anyone else who may have been victims to contact them. The HPD sex assault hotline is 713-308-1400. You can also send an email to sainfo@houstonpolice.org
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