In just one short lifetime, Mark Rathbun has been arrested, held
or charged on 73 felonies in two states.
He has been found guilty of 67 felonies, predominately crimes against women.
Provided he and behaves himself in prison, and that further
advancements in DNA technology don’t link him to other unsolved crime scenes,
we can expect Mr. Mark Rathbun to be a free man after 1136 years plus ten life
terms, or sometime around 3864.
5/5/03
At Mark Rathbun’s preliminary hearing, five police detectives took the witness stand, the first time any details about the rapist were revealed in open court. Detectives testified in place of the first seven victims. The rapist targeted women between the ages of 29 and 77, entered homes through unlocked windows or doors, and woke his victims from their sleep by covering their faces with one hand. He often wore gloves, shielded his face and told the women not to scream.
Mark Rathbun carried no weapon. He made the women change positions several times during the rapes. He often used the victims' nightgowns to cover their faces, and covered their bodies with a blanket afterward. Many times Rathbun told his victims to wait several minutes before moving. Sometimes he threatened them. Once he tucked the victim into her bed before fleeing. When one of the victims said she had Hepatitis B and asked him to use a condom, he complied. When another told him her back hurt during the rape, he placed her in a more comfortable position.
Detective Mike Holguin testified that in the case of Jane Doe # 5, the rapist seemed to treat the attack more as a date than an act of violence. He said the rapist woke the woman from her sleep, stroked her hair and told her she was pretty, “cuddled” with her for 30 minutes and then said he wanted to “make love” to her. After Rathbun raped her five times, he again cuddled her for another two hours, and then apologized. When he left, Rathbun said “I'll give you 10 minutes, and do what you have to do.”
Jane Doe # 6 was raped twice and had a different experience. Detective Randi Castillo testified that the woman had survived cancer 22 years before and had a colostomy bag as a result. Rathbun woke her from her sleep on a living-room chair, led her into her bedroom and pulled her nightgown over her head. He noticed the bag, asked what it was, and then proceeded to rape her. The woman did not initially report the crime out of fear when the man came back a second time and raped her again she called police.
5/6/03
Testimony was given by Huntington Beach Police Officer David Roberts who testified about the rape of Jane Doe No. 8. “The suspect made some comments as to her feeling good,” Roberts said. In the rape of Jane Doe No. 9, Los Alamitos Police Cpl. Brent Westwood testified that the 71-year-old victim was asleep on her stomach in her mobile home in Los Alamitos when she felt the attacker straddle her back. She was assaulted in the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
Los Alamitos Police Detective Chris Anderson then testified that the same attacker went to another mobile home in the same park and attacked a sleeping 69-year-old woman. “When he climbed on top of her she attempted to scream, and he said, “Shut up! Shut up! It will be easier on you.” The woman fought hard and bit on of Rathbun’s gloved fingers. The man proceeded to force her into the bathroom and pushed her to the ground, facedown and took off her pants. “Then, all of a sudden, he was gone,” the detective said. Rathbun left in victim’s car that was later found behind a building in the 4800 block of E. Anaheim Street in Long Beach.
5/6/03
At trial, the assault on Jane Doe # 11 was one of six detailed by detectives and crime scene investigators. Rathbun sat mostly expressionless in a gray suit. He turned only to look at the clock behind him at about 10 minutes before noon and as the doors opened for witnesses.
Alice Rathbun, who was expected to testify, did not. She appeared shaken and had language difficulties. Per the prosecutor, “She refused or wasn't able to answer any questions… She took the stand, we swore her in, but she was non-responsive to the questions.” Judge Ong ordered a Tagalog interpreter to help her through further questioning. She had previously spoken in English with Press-Telegram reporters in earlier interviews.
5/7/03
Alice Rathbun testified in her son’s case saying she did not tell the Long Beach Press-Telegram that her son confessed to the crimes, as had been reported on November 13, 2002. Alice Rathbun had been quoted as saying her son had said, “I am sorry I did it mom. I'm going to have to pay for my sins.” But Ms Rathbun denied telling the newspaper that her son had used the words, “I am sorry I did it mom.” She did, however, acknowledge that her son said, “I have to pay for my sins.” After the hearing, the Press-Telegram Executive Editor Rich Archbold said the paper stood by the story.
5/8/03
Judge Tomson Ong heard testimony from police and forensic experts. The final witness was Long Beach police Detective Katherine Kriskovic who testified that when advising Rathbun of the crimes he was suspected of, that he “didn’t really have a reaction… he was calm.” Mark Rathbun told Kriskovic that he “owed a great debt for the bad and hideous things he had done.” Mark Rathbun was ordered by Judge Ong to stand trial for a series of 15 sexual assaults in Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Los Alamitos.
5/8/03
Los Angeles Superior Court Case Number NA054905 alleging 64 felony counts was filed against Mark Rathbun.
7/21/03
Criminal Information was filed against Mark Rathbun.
4/13/04
First Amended Criminal Information was filed against Mark Rathbun (still alleging 64 Counts against him).
