A sexual assault suspect is still on the run 2 years after messaging a woman from Pennsylvania on Facebook “So I raped you”.
Ian Cleary (Photo: CBS News)
Cleary’s Crime
A man who allegedly sent a message to a woman on Facebook saying, “So I raped you” is still on the run after two years after being charged with sexual assault. Attorneys of 28-year-old Shannon Keeler, the victim from Pennsylvania, are still puzzled as to how Ian T. Cleary, the suspect, managed to avoid authorities in an age where people are easily tracked through phones, surveillance cameras, internet connections, and records of purchases from credit cards. The investigation is currently led by the U.S. Marshals who stated that Cleary is likely overseas as of the moment.
The crime happened one snowy December night as Keeler was staying inside her dorm room. She texted her friends for help long before Cleary fled. Keeler went to the police the following day. Local police ignored her plea to file charges for years even if she had her Facebook messages as evidence. Suddenly, the police changed their minds after Keeler decided to take her case publicly through a story Associated Press that would dive deep into the reluctance of local law enforcement to handle sexual assault cases.
Currently, Keeler is living a stable and peaceful life. She is currently working for a software company and this fall, she is to be married. Even with her life as it is right now, she is still on guard for Cleary’s arrest, knowing that a trial could potentially disturb her current life for years to come.
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Authorities Puzzled About Cleary’s Disappearance
Andrea Levy, Pennsylvania’s legal director of Coalition Against Rape, stated how Cleary is sustaining himself after being on the run from the law for years. Levy suggested that he might be under a false identity, which enabled him to travel overseas without being caught. Brian Sinnett, the District Attorney of Adams County who filed Cleary’s arrest warrant last June 2021, exclaimed that the duration of Cleary’s search left him frustrated. Sinnett added that for Cleary to survive this long, he has to be getting resources from somewhere.
Cleary’s parents were unable to return any request for comments about their son’s crime. According to Marshals, the search is still on for Cleary, with Interpol implementing a Red Notice on Cleary.
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