Police are appealing for potential victims of rape suspect Jeffrey Barnes to come forward after a woman contacted authorities from overseas on Tuesday to say he raped her.
The woman, who lives in Cayman but is currently off island, called police Tuesday to say the rape and indecent assault suspect, whose name and photograph police released Monday in a bid to track him down, had raped her last week.
Police arrested Barnes on Tuesday afternoon at the Ocean Club condo complex on Shamrock Road in Spotts in connection with the rape of a 49-year-old woman and repeated attempts to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car – both of which occurred on Saturday, 29 October – as well as the sexual assault of one of his own family members days earlier.
Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Detective Superintendent Marlon Boddon, announcing at a Tuesday briefing the arrest of 32-year-old Barnes by armed police officers, said after police released Barnes’ photo and name, another victim had come forward.
As a result of the publicity surrounding the case, another woman came forward and “reported that she had been raped by this individual. This was an incident that was reported to us today [Tuesday] and had occurred some days earlier,” he said. “It is absolutely imperative that any individual that has been approached by this individual or assaulted by this individual to get in contact with the police department,” he added. He said sometimes victims of sex crimes “gain the confidence” to come forward once police issue media releases about such crimes.
The latest victim to come forward told police she was not acquainted with Barnes.
Detective Superintendent Bodden said most sexual assault and rape cases in Cayman were committed by people known to their victims. He said there were currently no unsolved stranger rape cases on police books.
Police found Barnes hiding out in a young woman’s apartment in Ocean Club at lunchtime on Tuesday. The woman was also arrested on suspicion of obstructing police in lawfully executing their duties.
They had been searching for him since Saturday, 29 October, after a 49-year-old woman reported she had been raped by the driver of a red Honda Civic who had forced her into the car while she waited for a bus on Shamrock Road in Red Bay.
Police received a report minutes later that morning about a man in a red Honda Civic who had repeatedly tried to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car. Later that day, they received a call from a relative of Barnes who reported he had also sexually assaulted a member of his own family.
Police recovered the car on Saturday. The vehicle did not belong to Barnes, but he had been driving it with the knowledge of the owner, police said.
On Monday, police requested the public’s help in tracking down Barnes, releasing his name and photograph. “I want to thank the public for assisting us in being able to take this dangerous individual off the streets and into police custody,” Mr. Bodden said. He did not specify what information had led to Barnes’ arrest. He also would not elaborate on how long police believed Barnes had been at Ocean Club.
Prior to Saturday’s rape, police had already issued an arrest warrant for Barnes in relation to an assault occasioning actual bodily harm that had occurred a few months ago.
It is an unusual step for police to release a suspect’s name and photograph. Mr. Bodden said police did not take this kind of approach to tracking down suspects “lightly”.
“We have to weigh up a lot of evidential circumstances before we go public with showing an individual’s face on the television. For example, we have to examine whether or not there might be implications about an identification parade or otherwise. It’s not a circumstance that is taken lightly. That said, we have to balance the safety of the community against a dangerous criminal being out there. If we can actually make sure that no-one else is hurt or taken advantage of, we will do it,” Detective Superintendent Bodden said.
A special police team had been tasked with finding and apprehending Barnes. They were the ones who made the arrest at Ocean Club, he said.
Anyone who wants to contact police in relation to being a victim of a sex crime, should call 949-7777 or 949-4222, or contact the police’s Family Support Unit at 946-9185.
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Announce it to the inmates of what he has done and he will get all the sex he wants right where he deserves it.
I’m sure they already know. Sex offenders, particularly child molesters do not have it easy in jail.
I keep saying it…bring in Big Bob from Guantanamo to work in Northward Prison. That would dissuade most criminality in Cayman.
Hard to believe that there is a serial rapist on a small island where everyone almost knows everyone! Likewise with the crime spree(s) that go unsolved because nobody seems to know anybody or notice anyone who all of a sudden has come into some money! Knowing that this individual is so brazen as to have so many victims and/or potential victims, I just hope the police grill him on the whereabouts of the missing women of recent. Or maybe he isn’t the only one and can offer up information on others. Time for RCIPS to maybe do some grunt work. Glad to have him off the streets though so I can feel a little bit safer for my wife, daughter, mother or other loved one.
I am now wondering, is these man involved with the missing person anna and kerran.
Editor’s note: We’ve gotten a lot of questions about this matter. Police have confirmed that the individual who was arrested in this sexual assault case was in prison at the time of both the disappearances.
This is not the first time this offender has committed crimes of a sexual nature (see related stories link on the left hand side)
Hopefully they will throw away the key this time….
Asking for help from the public and publishing Mr. Barnes photo was a show of great strength and confidence by RCIPS. The message was loud and clear: It’s only a matter of time Jeffrey Barnes. There is no safe haven on this Island for the likes of youYOU WILL BE FOUND. Congratulations to the arresting team and especially DS Bodden. This was professional and expeditious policework. I ardently hope the appeal gives other victims the strength to come forward and seek justice.
You are so right Ms. Kim.
May others have the strength to come forward.
You want more victims to come forward; post more photographs and names of known and convicted felons/rapists.
There is a momentum to place these criminals behind bars, strike now!
Also, provide support and compassion to those who are and will be stepping forward; these are truly brave women.
As a former victim of this vile creature, I would really like to see him put away for a VERY long time. Jeffrey has been a danger to society for many years, not just recently. He should have never been released in the 1st place. Also, please I urge you to think twice before claiming victims are lying (especially when there is evidence). It hurts. Please Cayman, change your judicial system and start protecting your victims.
You are are very brave MDS! How this Jeffrey Barnes thought he could continue to target and rape women (of all ages!) with impunity must certainly be attributed to the leniency he has received by the judicial and penal systems. Perhaps he has also been shielded by the fact that most rape victims never come forward for fear of social ridicule?
Also I very much agree with Banana Republic about the photos of known sexual predators. They could certainly be displayed publicly at the Police Stations and Women’s Centres. The fear of social ridicule must be borne by predators (and would-be predators). Not by their victims.