Serial rapist from the 1990s arrested in Georgia following breakthrough in fingerprint evidence.
A 57-year-old man, Michael Benjamin, has been arrested in Georgia and charged with a series of violent rapes committed in Queens, New York during the 1990s. Authorities have linked him to at least five separate incidents of sexual assault, some of which involved threats to the victims’ families. The confirmation of his identity and involvement in these crimes comes after decades of investigation.
Benjamin was transported to New York City on October 16, where he was taken into custody by the Special Victims Unit. Upon his arrival, he denied any wrongdoing, insisting on his innocence. He now faces a 17-count indictment in Queens State Supreme Court, which includes multiple charges of rape and burglary. Given the troubling nature of the charges and his potential flight risk, the presiding judge, Gia Morris, has denied him bail.
According to District Attorney Melinda Katz, the assaults occurred between July 1995 and February 1997, with victims ranging in age from 21 to 42. Benjamin’s alleged pattern of behavior included breaking into homes late at night. In one particularly alarming incident, he is accused of raping a woman while holding her husband at gunpoint and threatening to kill them both if they resisted.
The investigation into these cold cases has been reignited by advancements in forensic technology, which led to the retesting of evidence collected from the crime scenes. A breakthrough came in 2024 when a fingerprint from one of the incidents was matched to Benjamin, leading to his subsequent identification. Law enforcement officials in Georgia subsequently obtained a DNA sample from him through discarded items.
Historically, Benjamin has a troubling criminal record; he was previously convicted of attempted rape of a child in 1990. Despite a history of violent offenses, he reportedly failed to register as a sex offender as mandated by law. Prosecutors are arguing that his previous convictions and current charges highlight a pattern of serious criminal behavior.
Benjamin’s defense attorney claims that his client was not evading law enforcement while living in Georgia and asserts that he denies all allegations against him. Discussions surrounding the statute of limitations for some of the charges have been a point of contention as well.
His next court appearance is scheduled for December 5, where he could potentially face a sentence of up to 25 years if convicted. This case underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in resolving cold cases and pursuing justice for victims of sexual violence.
The NYPD Special Victims Unit continues to investigate these crimes, demonstrating a commitment to reopening and resolving unsolved cases from the past.
