Georgetown rape investigation raises concerns about out-of-state predators in DE
James Allen, 34, of Maine is facing rape and child sex abuse charges for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl in Georgetown.
He reportedly traveled across state lines, from Maine to Delaware, to get his hands on a victim.
“It just happens to be that the victim is here, unfortunately it is an epidemic around our country,” says Abby Layton, head of the Delaware Child Predator Task Force.
Layton says since 2008, there have been 45 predators that traveled to Delaware to meet their victims. Of that number, 15 victims were rescued before the predator got to them.
Layton says often if a predator’s conversation with a potential victim moves quickly, the odds of investigators’ making a rescue are not as good.
“Generally it’s moved into private messaging to protect the conversations. It’s very difficult for us to get into contact with it.”
Georgetown Police say Allen started his online relationship with the 14-year-old on Facebook, which is something the task force says they do see.
However, the case was unusual in the disturbing items police say they found in the Comfort Inn Motel Room, where the victim and Allen reportedly met. Police say they found a life-like baby doll, a car seat, diapers, and other child care paraphernalia, but even that does not surprise Layton.
“These guys figure out what these kids are looking for, what they think will fulfill them and make them feel happy,” she says. “They find the most vulnerable kids who are looking for love and looking for someone to pay attention to them, groom them, develop this relationship with them, and promise them the love they aren’t getting somewhere else in their home.”
Police say the victim was a runaway, highlighting just how vulnerable children are when they’re online and unsupervised. However, Layton warns, there are also signs offline.
“The individual is sending presents and gifts a lot of the time, sometimes they’ll send web cams so they can communicate better, even gifts like teddy bears, baby dolls or rings,” she says. “That’s a clue you should look into further because that’s something that is consistent with the grooming practice.”
Georgetown Police are asking anyone who may recognize Allen from any contact, especially if he was in the company of children, to immediately call your local police department.
