Guard accused of rape appears in court on murder charge

HOUSTON

Steven Hobbs was in court Wednesday morning for a probable cause hearing. He's charged with capital murder in the death of Sarah Sanford. Her body was found along Beaumont Highway a year ago shot to death, and bound with handcuffs.

Hobbs is also charged with rape and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon involving another woman in June. Prosecutors said today that Hobbs was known to brutalize women and they're urging those victims to come forward.

"I know that the allegations in some of the rapes include being brutalized with batons, handcuffs. The number of deceased victims I have no way of knowing and the number of living victims I really can't guess either," said Katherine McDaniel with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say Hobbs preyed on prostitutes and that's why they may not be coming forward.

Hobbs is suspected, but not charged, in the murder of a second woman, Wanda Trombley. That case is still under investigation.

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