A suspected serial rapist linked through DNA to the 1989 rapes of two women in Framingham, Massachusetts, was taken into custody Thursday after a chase through the streets and freeways of Los Angeles, officials confirmed Friday.5 Investigates was the first to report the arrest of Stephen Paul Gale, 71, who was indicted on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery in May.Gale, who was medically evaluated after the police chase, is accused of raping two women who were working at a Hit or Miss store by Shoppers World on Dec. 27, 1989. They said he posed as a customer and pulled out a gun, ordered them to go to the back of the store in separate rooms and raped them. He fled, and the case went cold for decades. The case has been profiled by 5 Investigates for years after the survivors reached out and asked for help to find out what happened with the evidence in their case. They wanted law enforcement to reopen the investigation. Their persistence paid off in 2022 when the District Attorney and Framingham police paid for an outside lab to conduct genetic forensic genealogy, a method that has solved mysteries around the country, linking attackers to rapes and murders. Through that testing, investigators said they identified Gale as the suspect in connection with the case. In May, District Attorney Marian Ryan announced they had made a match from DNA to Stephen Paul Gale. Investigators knew that Gale had lived in several other states and used aliases. They also said he once had ties to organized crime. He had not been seen since 2007. His information was distributed nationwide, and authorities announced a $5,000 reward.Recent investigative efforts by the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Nevada and elsewhere led to information on which the USMS Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to take action. Gale was finally caught outside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a pursuit through Los Angeles that lasted about an hour. The pursuit started just before 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday in the Wilmington area, KABC reported.Video below: Victims who fought for investigation watched chase unfoldKABC's helicopter, AIR7, began following the suspect's Lincoln SUV on Interstate 405 near Los Angeles International Airport. AIR7 reporter Chris Cristi narrated the pursuit as it unfolded. For a time, the vehicle left the freeway and led police on a pursuit through surface streets in Inglewood. At several points, the SUV stopped for red lights. At other times, the Lincoln sped up or drove erratically to avoid apparent attempts by police to stop the vehicle with PIT maneuvers and attempts to deploy spike strips. Around 4:54 p.m. local time, the Lincoln moved onto the busy northbound side of I-405 and stayed on the freeway for about 10 minutes before returning to surface streets in Westwood.As the vehicle neared Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, an officer appeared to be successful in damaging one tire with a spike strip. From there, the vehicle entered a loop outside the hospital, where officers attempted to deploy more spike strips. Video below: Key moments from LAPD pursuitCornered outside the hospital, the suspect stopped the Lincoln. A few moments later, he opened the door and showed his hands to officers.The man appeared to be having difficulty walking as he stood beside the SUV. Officers handcuffed him and walked him to the rear of a cruiser. The Framingham survivors told 5 Investigates they watched the chase and arrest unfold live. They shared their appreciation for every law enforcement officer on the scene. "After more than three decades it now appears that Gale’s attempts to evade justice have come to an end," Middlesex District Attorney's Office said in a written statement. "For the two women who were victimized by him in 1989, the wait for answers has been long and painful. While Mr. Gale has made significant efforts to conceal his identity, the efforts by law enforcement were even more relentless.""I am grateful to our partners at the Framingham Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Marshal Service and others across the country who came together to locate Mr. Gale," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. Video below: Inside the work that identified Gale as a suspect
LOS ANGELES —
A suspected serial rapist linked through DNA to the 1989 rapes of two women in Framingham, Massachusetts, was taken into custody Thursday after a chase through the streets and freeways of Los Angeles, officials confirmed Friday.
5 Investigates was the first to report the arrest of Stephen Paul Gale, 71, who was indicted on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery in May.
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Gale, who was medically evaluated after the police chase, is accused of raping two women who were working at a Hit or Miss store by Shoppers World on Dec. 27, 1989. They said he posed as a customer and pulled out a gun, ordered them to go to the back of the store in separate rooms and raped them. He fled, and the case went cold for decades.
The case has been profiled by 5 Investigates for years after the survivors reached out and asked for help to find out what happened with the evidence in their case. They wanted law enforcement to reopen the investigation. Their persistence paid off in 2022 when the District Attorney and Framingham police paid for an outside lab to conduct genetic forensic genealogy, a method that has solved mysteries around the country, linking attackers to rapes and murders.
Through that testing, investigators said they identified Gale as the suspect in connection with the case. In May, District Attorney Marian Ryan announced they had made a match from DNA to Stephen Paul Gale. Investigators knew that Gale had lived in several other states and used aliases. They also said he once had ties to organized crime. He had not been seen since 2007.
His information was distributed nationwide, and authorities announced a $5,000 reward.
Middlesex DA's Office
KABC
Hearst Owned
Recent investigative efforts by the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Nevada and elsewhere led to information on which the USMS Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to take action.
Gale was finally caught outside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a pursuit through Los Angeles that lasted about an hour.
The pursuit started just before 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday in the Wilmington area, KABC reported.
Video below: Victims who fought for investigation watched chase unfold
KABC's helicopter, AIR7, began following the suspect's Lincoln SUV on Interstate 405 near Los Angeles International Airport. AIR7 reporter Chris Cristi narrated the pursuit as it unfolded.
For a time, the vehicle left the freeway and led police on a pursuit through surface streets in Inglewood. At several points, the SUV stopped for red lights.
At other times, the Lincoln sped up or drove erratically to avoid apparent attempts by police to stop the vehicle with PIT maneuvers and attempts to deploy spike strips.
KABC
Around 4:54 p.m. local time, the Lincoln moved onto the busy northbound side of I-405 and stayed on the freeway for about 10 minutes before returning to surface streets in Westwood.
KABC
As the vehicle neared Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, an officer appeared to be successful in damaging one tire with a spike strip. From there, the vehicle entered a loop outside the hospital, where officers attempted to deploy more spike strips.
Video below: Key moments from LAPD pursuit
Cornered outside the hospital, the suspect stopped the Lincoln. A few moments later, he opened the door and showed his hands to officers.
The man appeared to be having difficulty walking as he stood beside the SUV. Officers handcuffed him and walked him to the rear of a cruiser.
The Framingham survivors told 5 Investigates they watched the chase and arrest unfold live. They shared their appreciation for every law enforcement officer on the scene.
"After more than three decades it now appears that Gale’s attempts to evade justice have come to an end," Middlesex District Attorney's Office said in a written statement. "For the two women who were victimized by him in 1989, the wait for answers has been long and painful. While Mr. Gale has made significant efforts to conceal his identity, the efforts by law enforcement were even more relentless."
"I am grateful to our partners at the Framingham Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Marshal Service and others across the country who came together to locate Mr. Gale," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said.
Video below: Inside the work that identified Gale as a suspect
Survivors urge Massachusetts lawmakers to eliminate statute of limitations for rape when DNA is present
