A suspect who was needed for greater than three many years for allegedly raping two ladies whereas holding a gun to their heads at a Framingham division retailer was arraigned on Monday.
Stephen Paul Gale is going through 4 counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one depend of armed theft for the alleged sexual assault of two ladies on the Hit or Miss Retailer in Framingham in 1989.
“This is a day that has been much awaited,” Middlesex DA Marian Ryan mentioned throughout a press convention on Monday.
“Over the many years that this case remained unresolved, the victims, their families and the community at large endured a painful and frustrating wait, as marked by many false starts and moments of uncertainty,” she mentioned, later including, “We are, as I said at the beginning, very grateful to have reached this moment, and today to have him here to formally be arraigned for his actions.”
On the morning of Dec. 27, 1989, Gale allegedly entered the Hit or Miss Retailer on Route 9. He reportedly confirmed a .357 Magnum handgun, and compelled two feminine staff to the again of the shop.
Gale allegedly made one sufferer empty the cash from a locked secure, the shop’s register and her pocketbook right into a bag. He made the second sufferer lock the doorways and put an indication on the entrance door saying the shop would open late.
The suspect then allegedly compelled the victims to take off their garments and positioned them in separate rooms. He’s accused of sexually assaulting each ladies whereas holding the gun to their heads.
When Gale returned to the entrance of the shop, the victims fled out the rear hearth door to a close-by residence.
Proof was collected that led investigators to have the ability to acquire the suspect’s DNA.
“For 34 years, the identify of that assailant remained unknown,” Ryan mentioned.
However then in 2022, as a part of the continued investigation into this case, Middlesex prosecutors and the Framingham Police contracted with Parabon Nanolabs to make use of investigative genetic family tree to develop new leads that would assist determine the suspect.
DNA samples have been obtained from recognized members of the defendant’s household. This DNA proof and the statistical outcomes evaluating the chance of relatedness supplied possible trigger to determine Gale.
“This was a major development, but it was met with mixed emotions because despite significant collaboration from law enforcement across the country, Gale could not be located,” Ryan mentioned.
Then final August, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Division’s Gang and Narcotics Division together with members of the U.S. Marshal’s Apprehension Job Drive positioned Gale in California — the place he was residing on a yacht named “Dior.”
He allegedly fled the scene and made a number of makes an attempt to evade police in the course of the chase, together with avoiding at the least one set of spike strips. Finally, after an 82-minute pursuit that lined about 40 miles and was broadcast reside from information helicopters, Gale was apprehended.
This arrest “illustrates our commitment to continually reassessing cases, rooting out new leads and employing the latest technologies,” Ryan mentioned.
“It is our commitment that we do not forget and we do not give up,” she added.
This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Legal professional’s Workplace, the Framingham Police Division, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the DA’s Workplace, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Part, america Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory.
