Rape and kidnapping suspect arrested 20 years after violent rape outside Food Lion in Raleigh

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Thursday, December 7, 2023
Raleigh rape, kidnapping suspect arrested 20 years later
The suspect reportedly attacked a woman outside a Food Lion, punched her repeatedly, dragged her into the woods and raped her.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A man is now facing multiple charges in connection with sex crimes that happened from 1995-2004.

Raleigh Police Department arrested Rickey Hall, 59, Tuesday on a slew of charges including 15 counts of first-degree sexual assault, 12 counts of first-degree rape and 10 counts of first-degree kidnapping.

Investigators said one of the crimes Hall committed happened on Oct. 17, 2003. Hall reportedly attacked a woman at the Food Lion on Raleigh Boulevard. He used a knife to force his way into her car. He started hitting her. She managed to get out of her car and start to run away, but Hall tackled her. He reportedly then grabbed her by her hair, pulled her into the woods and raped her.

Hall said little during his court appearance Wednesday. He requested a court-appointed attorney and had his bond denied.

The evidence in the case was collected as part of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative that the North Carolina State Department of Justice started using years ago.

"Congratulations to the Raleigh Police Department for their hard work to make an arrest in this cold case, and potentially many other cases," said Attorney General Josh Stein. "I also want to commend the scientists at the State Crime Lab for their hard work to test evidence and give law enforcement the tools they need to move cases forward. We know that there's always a possibility that criminals who aren't caught will commit the same crimes again, so we're working to solve cold cases, get justice for survivors, and get violent offenders of our streets."

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As for Hall, this is not the first time he's been in trouble with the law.

He has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the 1980s. It includes previous convictions for breaking and entering, possession of cocaine, misdemeanor larceny, carrying a concealed weapon and second-degree rape.

Hall was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the 2009 second-degree rape case. As part of that case, a separate unrelated rape accusation against him was dismissed.

Hall has also several convictions since his release from prison, including felony breaking and entering, failing to register as a sex offender, and violating the sex offender registry.

The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative also recently lead police to arrest a man connected with a cold case dating back to 1998.