Oregon authorities warned citizens of a man suspected of torturing women through dating apps, using them to lure his victims and evade capture, reports say.
The subject identified as 36-year-old Benjamin Obadiah Foster remains at large as investigators and fugitive apprehension teams continue to collect leads, the Grant Pass Police Department said in a statement.
Foster was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault after attempting to kill a victim in Grant Pass while “intentionally torturing” her and confining her in hiding, according to Josephine County District Attorney Joshua Eastman. through a legal document.
On Thursday, Grant Pass Police, with assistance from Oregon State Police, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and federal partners, executed a search warrant at a residence in Wolf Creek, Oregon.
Authorities also said Foster held his ex-girlfriend captive in his Las Vegas apartment for two weeks before moving to Oregon.
A Las Vegas police report obtained by The Associated Press said the bride was forced to eat bleach, suffocated to unconsciousness and suffered broken ribs, black eyes and injuries after being bound at the wrist and ankles. .
In that offense, SWAT arrested him when his ex-girlfriend ran away, and he is charged with five felonies, including assault and battery. However, he reached an agreement with Clark County prosecutors that allowed him to plead guilty to felony assault and misdemeanor assault in August 2021.
He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail, but only served 200 days because the trial period lasted 729 days.
Last Tuesday, Grant Pass police responded to reports of an assault, where they found a woman tied up and severely beaten unconscious. She was taken to a hospital where she is in critical condition.
Police identified Foster, who fled the scene before authorities arrived, Fox News reported.
Investigators indicated that the suspect actively uses online dating apps to attract unsuspecting women who may aid his ability to evade police, or could become his next victim, authorities said.
“The Grants Pass Police Department wants the community to be safer while this predator is still on the loose and also warns that anyone who helps Ben Foster escape will face possible prosecution,” the department said.
A press release issued on Sunday noted that Foster may have attempted to change his appearance by shaving or painting his beard and hair. They asked to emphasize Foster’s facial structure and eyes, also posting a department tip line at 541-237-5607 seeking information on the suspect’s whereabouts, with a reward set at $2,500.
With information from Fox News