COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man who is accused of kidnapping and raping several women in Columbus will be held without bond until trial, a Franklin County judge ruled Thursday.
Michael Davis, 57, is charged with three counts of rape and kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in court last week.
While out on bond for a 2023 kidnapping and rape case, Davis is accused of kidnapping and raping at least three other women.
A Franklin County Sheriff's detective who took the stand said all three women had the same story, which included Davis picking them up around Cleveland Avenue, and as soon as they got in his truck, he allegedly held them at knifepoint.
The detective said Davis reportedly took them back to his home, gave them cocaine and raped them for hours, or at times days.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Rick Minerd spoke to 10TV’s Lacey Crisp in May about Davis' behavior.
“There is a pattern of behavior that exists here,” Minerd said. “How long has he been doing this? Who knows. We know at least the last couple of weeks."
Minerd said detectives arrested Davis after multiple accusations of rape from different women.
The first victim came forward earlier in May via a phone call, but detectives were not able to locate her.
Then, another woman called, and another — all with very similar accounts of allegedly being kidnapped, taken to his home, raped at knifepoint and forced to take what they believed was cocaine, according to court documents.
Before Davis was charged with the three counts of rape and kidnapping, he was out on a $500,000 cash surety bond on a 2023 rape and kidnapping charge.