Pittsburgh police urge victims of suspected serial rapist to come forward

Police said they believe a Polish Hill man accused of drugging, raping and filming a half dozen women likely has more victims.

Eric Jefferson, 39, faced 81 charges across six rape cases as of Thursday when Pittsburgh police said in a statement that evidence in the cases indicates there are likely more victims.

The first of the cases against Jefferson in connection with the alleged assaults was filed May 18. Four more cases were filed June 11, and one more was filed Wednesday.

Police said the charges are the culmination of a months-long investigation that was assisted by the FBI.

Charges filed against Jefferson indicate that he would offer women a place to stay, providing food, clothing and other necessities. Multiple victims told investigators that Jefferson forced them into prostitution in order to provide payment for staying with him, according to the criminal complaints.

In addition to forcing the women into prostitution, Jefferson also assaulted and raped the women himself, according to the complaint. One woman told police that Jefferson would become agitated and angry, threatening her and denying her access to basic needs. She said she was allowed to use a cell phone only under Jefferson’s supervision, according to the complaint.

The woman told police she had no safe place to go, nor did she have any money or way to communicate, according to the complaint. She said she was scared of Jefferson.

Investigators searched Jefferson’s 30th Street home about 6 a.m. May 18, at which point his cell phone was seized by officers, according to the complaint. On it were dozens of videos that police said showed Jefferson raping unconscious women.

In the case of Victim 2, police said the woman was unconscious in many of the more than a dozen videos found on Jefferson’s phone. In others, they said, she was clearly crying and in pain.

Jefferson was initially jailed May 18 on $50,000 bail. A judge later raised the amount of $1 million when more charges were filed. Upon arraignment of even more charges in mid-June, a judge denied Jefferson bail, calling him “a great risk/danger to humanity.”

The charges against Jefferson include dozes of counts of rape, indecent assault and promoting prostitution. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.

Anyone who thinks they were victimized by Jefferson is asked to contact Detectives Joseph Ryczaj or Danielle Ossman at 412-323-7761.