Pocono News Section

Man Arrested for Raping Mentally Challenged Woman

Man Arrested for Raping Mentally Challenged Woman - Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 6:06PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 @ 06:06pm EST
KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY- An examination of a stillborn fetus leads to a Kingston man's arrest. Investigators say Peter Flanagan of Price Street raped a woman, and got her pregnant.

Police say Flanagan was apparently getting away with rape for months. If the victim hadn't gotten pregnant, they may have never been able to make an arrest.

Flanagan was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Kingston. Police say he repeatedly raped a 38-year-old woman at her home on Pulaski Street in Kingston. The woman is mentally challenged.

Police learned about the alleged rapes when she gave birth to a stillborn fetus in April. She was 6 months into her pregnancy but apparently didn't know she was pregnant. "At the time that's what she stated to the hospital personnel. She didn't realized that she was actually pregnant. So obviously there was no pre-natal care," said Kingston Detective Thomas Paratore.

Flanagan was apparently a family friend, helping the woman and her mentally challenged brother. Police say that DNA testing shows 99.9% accuracy that Flanagan is the father. Police say he voluntarily gave blood samples, but has flat out denied any wrong doing.