Alleged kidnapping/sexual assault victim claims man raped her two weeks before

CEDAR RAPIDS – A 62-year-old woman told police William Roby sexually assaulted her two weeks before he forcibly held her in his apartment for 10 hours Monday and raped her three times, according to a search warrant filed Thursday in Linn County District Court.

The woman told officers she was already scared of Roby, 51, who became “increasingly strange” over the last several weeks, according to the warrant. She dated him from February to December 2010. She didn't report the first assault because she knew he had served time for stabbing an ex-girlfriend.

Roby is charged with first-degree kidnapping and remains in the Linn County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond. If convicted he faces life in prison without parole.

The woman said the next day after the first assault, May 2, Roby hid his car and then jumped out at her when she passed through the laundry room in his apartment building, according to the warrant. She called the police this time and an officer told Roby to stay away from her.

Late Monday she entered the common area of Roby's apartment building, not to see him, but when she did she ran up the stairs but he caught her and wrapped one hand around her mouth and the hand around her waist, according to the warrant. He then dragged her into his apartment and threw her on the couch, locking the door behind him as she screamed for help.

She was held for nearly 10 hours and asked many times to leave but he refused, according to the warrant. Roby forced her into his bedroom and forced her down on the bed, breaking the bed frame. He then forced her into the spare bedroom and sexually assaulted her three times over the 10-hour period. He threatened to kill her cat if she didn't comply.

Roby also threatened to kill her and himself if officers showed up, the woman told police.

The woman finally convinced Roby to let her go so she could get ready for work, according to the warrant. She locked the door as soon as she got inside and called the police.

According to court records, Roby was convicted of attempted murder in Webster County in 1991. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but was released on parole in 2000 because of good conduct, Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta said.