COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus man who was arrested on a rape charge last year gained similar charges while out on bond this month.
Michael Davis, 57, was let out on bond in April 2023 after being arrested on a rape charge, according to the Franklin County Municipal Court. He is now in the Franklin County jail and is expected to be in court Monday after he was arrested Friday on three more counts of rape and kidnapping.
“He is a cold-blooded guy,” said Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Rick Minerd. “There is a pattern of behavior that exists here. 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 MO was basically to lure these young women in," Minerd said. "They were victims that were vulnerable for a number of different reasons. Then, he would abduct them, then sexually assault them over a period of days. Oftentimes, paying them when they got away."
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.
“Since then, we have identified what we believe is a fourth victim, and we think there may be a fifth one out there as well. In terms of the last couple of weeks and his pattern of behavior,” Minerd said.
At the time of these alleged rapes, Davis was out on a $500,000 bond on a 2023 rape charge.
“This case is unique in the sense that we think there are other people out there, and there may be more than the five that we believe are there. There could be more,” Minerd said.
Davis owns a business and drives a black GMC Denali truck. The sheriff's office is asking for anyone with information on Davis to contact them at 614-525-3333.
“We have every reason to believe there may be other women out there, so we are hoping that anyone who has seen the truck [or] suspicious behavior, recognizes this guy," Minerd said. "He is a big guy, he is of large stature, very intimidating in terms of his size. If someone sees his picture, picture of his truck, we are asking them to call the sheriff's office and report any information that you might have that would lead us to these other victims we think are out there."