Scroll Left Scroll Right

U.S. Prosecutors: Colo. gunman threatened professor 1 of 9
World Iran: "Rural white" Americans fond of Ahmadinejad 2 of 9
U.S. Minneapolis gunman had just been fired: Police 3 of 9
Gallery Manipulated photography before Photoshop 4 of 9
Sports Regular NFL refs return, get standing ovation 5 of 9
CBS This Morning Beach Boys reuniting for last time? 6 of 9
Politics Voter registration fraud claims singe GOP 7 of 9
Entertainment Another ratings coup for Honey Boo Boo 8 of 9
World Somali militants forced from last stronghold? 9 of 9

September 16, 2010 4:22 PM

Print
Text

Woman Sexually Assaulted by Man She Met on eHarmony, Say Cops

By: Carlin DeGuerin Miller
Topics: Daily Blotter

John Swann Evans (Loudon County Sheriff's Department)

NEW YORK (CBS) Police say a Virginia woman's search for love ended in a modern woman's worst nightmare: the man she had come to know online turned out to be a monster who held her against her will and sexually assaulted her.

Loudon County Sheriff's spokesman Kraig Troxell said that John Swann Evans was arrested Sept. 3 after an investigation into allegations made by a 37-year-old woman who says she met Evans on a dating website, according to The Washington Post.

Police say the woman told detectives that she first met Evans in June on eHarmony.com and began communicating with him over the internet and possibly the phone before finally meeting Evans at his home in July, the paper reported.

According to the victim's statement, Evans held her against her will and sexually assaulted her. Troxell did not say when the assault allegedly took place but said that the victim reported it July 12.

Evans is currently being held at the Loudon County Detention Center on charges of abduction with intent to defile and forcible sodomy, according to the Post.

Troxell said that during the course of the investigation investigators grew concerned that Evans may have done this before but that those vitims had not come forward yet.

Anyone with knowledge of someone who may have been a victim should contact Investigator Bobbie Ochsman of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.

14 Comments +

Add a Comment See all 14 Comments


by feenixagain January 25, 2013 8:11 AM EST: To Sassytxn
Jayroy007 didn't say it was her fault. It was written that she put herself in a bad situation. That's an absolutely correct assessment. There is no question that this was the perpetrator's fault, but she was wrong to put herself into that situation. Live and learn.; Reply to this comment

by cleric77 January 24, 2013 5:20 PM EST

I feel our nation's females need to learn to defend themselves and do let your emotional or mental guard down when you are first meeting a male. Suggestion: Maybe start going to a church/place of worship and begin your search for a future spouse or trust your best friend's suggestions for a double date.

Reply to this comment


by CitizenKage January 24, 2013 5:57 PM EST: Oh, yeah because the church is the last place you'd expect to find a sexual deviant. And sometimes dating people at church is no better than dating your co-workers. If things go south now you're stuck with a possibly bitter ex in your environment unless you want to change churches.


by mchiro January 12, 2011 5:03 PM EST: In case you didn't hear the news, this man was released from custody without trial. Without trial? Yes, because the state of Virginia's attorney took one look at the evidence and said that they had no case, no evidence, and not even a credible witness! The judge released the man, and his case, apologized for holding him without bond for 30 days plus, and lashed the state attorney verbally for setting them up for a potential civil case. This is a case of a woman meeting a man, claiming rape, and the reality its a case of sexual remorse. The media called him guilty before any evidence was gathered, except for what the "sheriffs" department gathered.; Reply to this comment


by VA_Jill September 18, 2010 3:34 PM EDT: The point is to always meet someone in a public place the first few times. But even then you don't know how they will act later on, no matter how well you think you know them. Some people are just rotten at the core.; Reply to this comment


by sensiblysane September 17, 2010 1:18 PM EDT: Every time a woman goes on a date with a man she is putting her safety at risk. They are bigger and stronger than we are. We are at their mercy. Meeting a man at work, in a bar, or on the internet makes no difference. Even simply walking to your car in a mall parking lot puts you at risk. Answering your door in your own home puts you in danger. Getting a quote to repair your roof from a male contractor can be a deadly encounter. Their strength will almost always overcome any effort we make to protect ourselves.; Reply to this comment

by alancontact September 17, 2010 2:22 AM EDT

Whatever happened to the idea of getting to know someone BEFORE going to their home? Email and telephone conversations don't count! You need to meet face to face several times to get a true idea of another persons intentions. It's a bummer that it happened, but a bit of common sense would have prevented the whole thing.

I think the perpetrator got his websites mixed up. He probably thought it was Adult Friend Finder instead of eHarmony.

Reply to this comment


by pak31 September 17, 2010 8:40 AM EDT: True mallory but it should be common sense not to hook up with someone you don't know in person. Yes, anyone can be killed at any time but for example, would you talk on this blog and then go meet with one of the other bloggers at their home if invited?? I would hope not.


by sensiblysane September 17, 2010 12:22 AM EDT: I don't think eHarmony has perfected its personality profile matching system yet.; Reply to this comment


by MizzT--2008 September 16, 2010 6:16 PM EDT: If we want to learn from this it is that no matter what, no matter where, when it involves the internet and meeting someone for the first time, no matter how charming or disarming the person you are meeting may seem, never- ever- attempt such a meeting alone. But to blame the victim of a sexual assault for that assault does nothing but provide an excuse to the perpetrator for his own pathetic behavior. We do not know what ruses Evan's used to get his victim (or possible victims) into his home, so to outright blame this victim for the horror she suffered is adding undue insult to a very real injury, and exhibits an equally real lack of human compassion. (The lack of which, we, as a society, have learned only too well, lies at the heart of every sexually-motivated crime.); Reply to this comment

by jayroy007 September 16, 2010 4:38 PM EDT

This lady put herself into a stupid compromised position...she is lucky that she wasn't killed....live and learn.

Reply to this comment


by Sassytxn September 16, 2010 11:39 PM EDT: Are you freakin kidding me??? You're blaming HER??? What this man did is reprehensible. He goes online, gains the trust of a woman and then rapes her and it's HER FAULT?
You live and learn jayroy...he belongs in prison.


by alancontact September 17, 2010 2:28 AM EDT: I agree with jayroy. It's one of those easily avoidable situations that a little bit of common sense would have prevented it from happening. I mean, how many face to face dates did they go out on BEFORE she went to his place? Sorry, I don't have a lot of sympathy for stupid people.

As for the creep, throw him in prison for a couple dozen years. Trouble is, there a more out there just like him.


by pak31 September 17, 2010 8:44 AM EDT: To sassytxn, come on...this woman needs to take some of the blame. An adult female should have the common sense, especially in today's world, NOT to meet a guy at his home, for the first time, a guy she has never met before ever except over the internet. I mean, would you go to some guys house for a date that you didn't know??? You are asking for trouble. How can you trust someone you don't know? SOrry but internet relationships are not to be trusted fully if you have no idea who you are talking to.

See all 14 Comments

Popular Now in Crime

recommended

Follow Crimesider

Most Popular on CBS News

Stories More »

Videos More »

17 Photos | View Gallery »
Fla. teen charged over underage same-sex relationship
10 Photos | View Gallery »
Missouri train derailment
18 Photos | View Gallery »
Vampire Weekend
22 Photos | View Gallery »
Photos of the week
10 Photos | View Gallery »
Best U.S. beaches 2013

Scroll Left

Scroll Right More »

48 Hours 48 Hours for iPad^® A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.

CBS News on Facebook

Woman Sexually Assaulted by Man She Met on eHarmony, Say Cops

Report offensive content:

E-mail this comment to a friend.

Follow Crimesider

48 Hours iPad App