Suspect in Kidnapings and Rapes Near College Campuses Is Arrested

A man suspected of abducting three women from college campuses and raping two of them has been arrested, authorities said Wednesday.

Richard Nichols, 22, of Los Angeles was arrested Tuesday near the USC campus after officers located his truck using information from one of the victims, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Alan Kerstein.

“We believe he committed a kidnap-rape last Friday, Oct. 4, at 38th and Flower streets,” Kerstein said. “A USC co-ed was taken from that location and driven to an isolated area of southeast Los Angeles. The sexual assault occurred there.”

The victim called police after being left at the scene and gave detectives a partial license number of the truck, Kerstein said. A USC security guard saw the truck Tuesday, parked about two miles south of the campus on Figueroa Street, the lieutenant said.

Detectives staked out the truck and arrested Nichols when he came to it about 4 p.m., Kerstein said.

“He is also the primary suspect in two additional kidnap-assaults at El Camino College (in Torrance),” Kerstein said. “They were both committed on Sept. 26.” One of those victims was raped.

Those victims have also identified Nichols from photographs, Kerstein said.