More charges filed against suspect in series of Minneapolis sexual assaults
Jory Wiebrand[Hennepin County Jail]
More charges have been filed against an alleged serial rapist police believe to be responsible for a series of sexual assaults near the University of Minnesota's East Bank.
Jory Wiebrand, 34, of Ham Lake, was already charged in two previous home invasions in which women were assaulted. Tuesday, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced charges against him for three separate cases.
In connection to a March 23, 2015 case, Wiebrand was charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. In connection to an Aug. 4, 2018 case, he was charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree burglary. And, in connection to a Jan. 3, 2020 case, he was charged with harassment and invasion of privacy.
According to the criminal complaints, Minneapolis police received a report of a rape in the 1300 block of Seventh Street on March 23, 2015. The victim said Wiebrand pepper-sprayed her, forced her to the ground and used his weight to immobilize her before sexually assaulting her. Eventually, the victim was able to get free, run away, scale a fence and get help from residents of a nearby home.
The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment and a sexual assault examination. Swabs from that exam showed a DNA profile match to Wiebrand's, according to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension testing.
On Aug. 4, 2018, Minneapolis police responded to a rape and robbery report on the 800 block of Sixth Street. The victim told officers she was returning from a gathering with friends at about 2:30 a.m. when she went to have a cigarette on her back patio. At that time, she said Wiebrand attacked her from behind, pulled her into the house and choked her, then sexually assaulted her. He also allegedly pepper-sprayed her and fled with her purse.
The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment and received a sexual assault examination. The complaint states the swabs excluded 99.99999997% of the population based on DNA but Wiebrand wasn't excluded.
Cases linked to alleged Minneapolis serial rapist keep stacking up
On Jan. 3, 2020, Minneapolis police responded to a report of a person prowling and looking into people's windows in the 900 block of Seventh Street. A few weeks later, a U of M student and her parent contacted University Police stating they had surveillance of a man looking into people's windows.
The complaint states that video showed a clear image of Wiebrand, and police noted it was consistent with his modus operandi.
Wiebrand has been identified as the perpetrator in at least nine sexual assaults, assaults and burglaries in the same neighborhood between 2015 and 2020.
The attorney's office said additional charges against Wiebrand are likely forthcoming.