Planned kidnap and rape of multiple victims
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
Yesterday, Wed., March 11, 2020 defendant Matthew Caruso of Newark (38-years-old) pleaded guilty to two felonies of attempted kidnapping for rape, one count for each victim in the case. Judge Laurel Brady of the Contra Costa County Superior Court accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Caruso to nine years in state prison.
Last year, Caruso was charged with four felonies by our Office after an extensive investigation by the Walnut Creek Police Department. Caruso tried to abduct Jane Doe outside of her apartment in the early morning of March 26, 2019. Fortunately, the attack and kidnapping failed, but Caruso tried to use a taser to subdue the victim. He then fled the scene wearing an elaborate disguise.
Not only was the primary victim able to fend off her attacker, but a witness noticed that the suspect dropped his phone in nearby bushes as the victim thwarted the attack. A few hours before this attack, Caruso drove by another victim’s residence but did not engage with this victim.
A particularly observant civilian in Fremont helped to catch this defendant with his quick thinking. The good Samaritan found disturbing notes from Mr. Caruso explaining his desire to kidnap and rape multiple victims, zip ties, and a mask in a dumpster and immediately called the Fremont police. The officers in Fremont did an amazing job of sifting through the garbage in that dumpster to locate a receipt that they traced back to the defendant.
Teamwork between attentive community members and diligent police officers brought this suspect to justice and made the community safer.
To protect their confidentiality, our Office does not release the name or age of the victim, or their relationship to a defendant for this type of case. A criminal protective order was also ordered by the judge to prevent the defendant from communicating with either victim.
The case was investigated by the Walnut Creek Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Bryan Tierney prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Tierney is assigned to our Sexual Assault Unit.
Case information: People v. Matthew Caruso, Docket Number 01-189376-7
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