LOCAL : ‘St. Peter’ Rape Suspect Held

Long Beach police believe have arrested a suspect in the so-called “St. Peter Rapist” attacks who has allegedly assaulted three women in bizarre attacks in which he chops off their hair and carves crosses in their backs.

Joseph Brian Socha, 28, was taken into custody after he was recognized by someone who had seen news reports of the bizarre attacks on three women that have occurred in the last two weeks, Lt. Carroll Shelly said.

Three women reported a man picked them up in his brown Volvo and told them he was “St. Peter, the messenger of the Lord” before sexually assaulting them and using a knife to cut off their hair and carve crosses on their backs.

The rapes occurred Sept. 16, 21 and 28 and took place in Long Beach and the harbor area.

The victims all entered the man’s car voluntarily, investigators said. Two women said they were hitchhiking and the third said she simply accepted a ride from the attacker.

“In all three cases, the suspect identified himself as St. Peter, the messenger of the Lord. He cuts off their hair, claiming to present their hair to God in order to cleanse their souls,” said Fogg.

Police had asked last weekend for the public’s help in finding the attacker, and up to 40 telephone callers offered information, investigators said. It was unknown if one of the phone tips led to the arrest.