FRAMINGHAM — A man wanted in the 1989 rape of two women at a Framingham retail store is in custody in Los Angeles, the U.S. Marshal’s Office confirmed Friday.
The U.S. Marshal’s Office did not release details about the arrest of 71-year-old Stephen Paul Gale, but WCVB-TV reported he was arrested after an hour-long chase with Los Angeles police.
Authorities have not commented on the arrest. A Los Angeles police spokesman said at 1 p.m. Friday that the man refused to give his name.
Local authorities publicly identified Gale during a press conference in May and announced that he had been charged with the 1989 rape of two women at the now-closed Hit-or-Miss clothing store on Route 9.
“Horrible crime”: Middlesex District Attorney names suspects in 1989 rape of two Framingham retail store employees
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said Gale was identified using DNA collected at the time of the rapes.
According to authorities, Gale entered the store disguised as a customer, threatened the women at gunpoint and raped them.
The U.S. Marshal’s Office offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Gale’s arrest. They said he was wanted for the Framingham rapes as well as other rapes in the Boston area.
Gale is accused of four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery.
Now that Gale has been identified, he must appear before a judge in Los Angeles for a transfer hearing before he can be sent back to Massachusetts.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For public safety updates, follow @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
