19-Year-Old American Man Commits Rape and Holds Girlfriend Hostage Due to Provocative Social Media Posts

19-year-old Keanu Labatte Arrested for Raping and Holding Girlfriend Captive Over Social Media Posts

A horrifying incident has unfolded at St Catherine University in the United States, where a 19-year-old man, Keanu Labatte, has been arrested on charges of raping, torturing, and holding his girlfriend captive for several days in her dorm room. According to CBS News, Labatte was taken into custody on September 10 and has since been charged with five felony counts, including criminal sexual conduct, domestic assault by strangulation, and threats of violence.

The disturbing events began when Labatte visited his girlfriend on the all-girls campus on September 7. After discovering texts, images, and social media posts that angered him, Labatte took hold of her phone and kept it from her for several days, as stated in the complaint. Over the course of three days, Labatte subjected the young woman to sexual assault, strangulation, and threats of violence. He even forced her to lie in a bathtub while covering her face with a washcloth and pouring water on her. The complaint also mentioned that Labatte reminded her of a previous incident where he held a knife to his ex-girlfriend’s throat.

According to the victim, she felt terrified and paralyzed with fear during the ordeal, to the point where she would simply lay next to Labatte and not move. However, she managed to escape on Sunday when she convinced him to let her go to the campus cafeteria. Labatte allowed her to take her phone with her, unaware that she planned to report the abuse to the university’s security office. Distraught and visibly upset, the woman immediately sought help, and the university promptly notified the police.

After the victim escaped, Labatte attempted to contact her multiple times and even texted her, inquiring about the presence of police outside. However, the authorities swiftly apprehended him in the dorm room. He now faces charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, domestic assault by strangulation, and threats of violence.

St Catherine University has chosen not to comment on the matter, citing the need to protect the victim’s confidentiality and prevent any potential re-traumatization. This deeply distressing incident serves as a reminder of the importance of raising awareness about domestic violence and providing support for victims.

Sources:
– CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/keanu-labatte-accused-raping-waterboarding-captive-girlfriend-dorm-st-catherine-university/
– NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/minnesota-man-accused-waterboarding-assaulting-woman-college-dorm-thre-rcna105064

Original Story at www.ndtv.com – 2023-09-15 10:32:52