Toronto police say a man is in custody after a sex trade worker was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and held against her will in an east-end home for five days.
Investigators say the 27-year-old victim was approached by a man in the area of Sherbourne and Shuter streets on March 31. Investigators say a “business transaction” took place and the man brought her to a residence in the area of Dundas Street East and Jones Avenue. When the woman arrived, police say she felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave but the man pulled out a handgun, threatened her and refused to let her go.
According to police, she was held at the home for five days and during that time, she was bound with duct tape and handcuffs and was repeatedly sexually assaulted.
Eventually on April 5, police say the woman was able to break free and run out the front door of the home. Officers were notified of the incident by a passerby who heard her screams and called police.
According to police, when officers arrived on scene, the man had fled. The suspect, who is known to police, was later located and arrested on April 6.
“It appears, through investigation, she was targeted, that he has some form of ritualistic actions involved in the crime as well,” Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins said at a news conference Tuesday.
“I can’t get into the details of it but he did do things that we are very unfamiliar with.”
The victim was taken to hospital but has since been released and is in "good condition," Beaven-Desjardins said.
She added that the nature and severity of the crime have led investigators to believe that the suspect, who is from Timmins and spent time in Chatham and London, may have victimized other women.
“When we get crimes of this type, that we believe are transient or can happen over many jurisdictions, we notify the OPP, their serial predator unit, and they look into the information that they have,” Beaven-Desjardins told reporters.
The accused, 43-year-old Rejean Hermel Perron, of Toronto, has been charged with sexual assault with a weapon, kidnapping, forcible confinement and assault.
"I’m asking any sex trade worker if they want to come forward and give us any information relating to anything like this, please do give us a call," Beaven-Desjardins said.
"If you don’t want to proceed criminally, please call us and we can hook you up with the proper services through victim services."
Anyone with information about this investigation can contact police by calling 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
