Woman Had Advertised Massages Online
By Theresa Vargas
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 24, 2006
After a Dale City man was charged with raping a 19-year-old woman who advertised massage services online, Prince William County police said this week that they fear there might be more victims.
"We need to know how many more are out there," Detective Quenton Sallows said.
The woman told police that after the man raped her at knifepoint last Thursday, he chastised her for advertising online and told her that "he was just trying to show her how dangerous it can be, that she could lose her life for $200," Sallows said. The man then warned her not to call police, saying that he and his family were in law enforcement and that his home was used by officers to clean up the neighborhood, Sallows said.
"We're afraid that there might be other victims out there who were too intimidated by that speech to come forward," Sallows said.
Michael A. Frese, 28, of the 13000 block of Kumar Court was being held in Prince William County jail without bond. He was arrested Friday and charged with rape, forcible sodomy, abduction with the intent to defile and impersonating an officer. Police said he told investigators that he had contacted other women online but that this was the first time one came over.
A search of the word "massage" in the Washington area on the classifieds site Craigslist.org, where the woman advertised, yields about 600 hits. Some advertisers list their ages; others offer pictures. One woman writes: "I'm an attractive, fun and friendly, slim, blonde, young college girl that will give you the TLC massage you've been needing." She lists her cellphone number and a price: $70 an hour.
Police said the 19-year-old, whom they are not identifying, had included a description of herself, the hours she would be in the area and her rates -- $100 for a half-hour and $150 for an hour. She said that she is a single mother and that a friend told her that it would be an easy way to make money, police said. Her advertisement had been on Craigslist three days when she received an e-mail from Frese about 3 p.m. last Thursday, police said.
"I'll pay $200 an hour, maybe more, if you can get to Dale City ASAP," the e-mail said, according to police.
The woman arrived at the home just before 4 p.m. and was immediately led down to the basement, police said. Feeling uncomfortable with the situation, she tried to leave, saying she forgot something in her car, police said, when Frese allegedly pulled out a serrated knife. The woman was then handcuffed and sexually assaulted, police said.
She was allowed to leave only after receiving the lecture and being made to promise that she would never advertise massage services online again, Sallows said.
The woman drove to a police station, where she reported the sexual assault. Sallows said the woman "did have some physical trauma to help substantiate the claims she was making."
Frese was arrested the next night at Springfield Mall. He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Nov. 21.
Police seized a knife, a cellphone and other items from his home, according to a search warrant filed in Prince William Circuit Court.
Reached at the home Tuesday, Michael Frese's father, Larry, said he couldn't understand the charges against his son, who he said lives with him and had never been in any real trouble before.
"This is just so against his nature, it's hard to believe," he said. "It's hard to even think what could have happened."
Larry Frese said he believes that authorities have already tried and convicted his son and that in court, "it's going to wind up being a he said/she said."
Police said they are investigating to see whether there are any additional victims and encourage anyone with information to call Sallows at 703-792-7234.
They are not trying to charge anyone with prostitution, Sallows said. "We just want to know how many victims we have," he said.
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