'Horrific & Abominable': Man Charged In 3 St. Paul Rape Cases

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 38-year-old St. Paul man is accused in three stranger rapes that occurred in St. Paul this fall, according to charges filed in Ramsey County.

Larry Donnell Griffin faces six felony charges of first-degree criminal sexual assault, four felony charges of kidnapping and two felony charges of first-degree aggravated robbery.

Griffin was arrested Tuesday when authorities said they were able to link three rape cases using DNA evidence.

The first case occurred on Aug. 30. A woman told police she had been walking near a SuperAmerica on Payne Avenue when a man driving a tan minivan approached her. He asked if she needed a ride, and then raped her at gunpoint in the vehicle.

The second case reportedly occurred on Sept. 22. The victim reported she had been walking near Payne and Magnolia avenues when she was robbed and raped at gunpoint.

Police said the third case, which occurred on Oct. 25, followed the same pattern. Just before midnight, officers saw a 41-year-old woman running across the street. She was nude and crying hysterically. The victim told police she was walking on Payne Avenue when a man in a minivan pulled up next to her and asked if she needed a ride. When she ignored him, he forced her into the vehicle at gunpoint and raped her.

Police said Griffin was stopped around 1 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Hazel Park Preparatory Academy. During the course of investigation, officers found two guns in Griffin's possession that they believed were used in the crimes.

"The alleged behavior by the defendant is horrific and abominable. These cases represent the worst things that people do to others. As a community, we should do everything in our power to support the victims of sexual violence," Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said. "We will do our part by vigorously pursuing justice for these victims and our community. I want to thank responding medical staff and the St. Paul police for their dedicated work to investigate and apprehend the defendant."

If convicted, Griffin could face up to 30 years in prison and/or a $40,000 fine for each criminal sexual conduct charge. He could face up to 20 years in prison per kidnapping charge and 20 years per aggravated robbery charge.