A Superior Court judge sentenced Friday a Chester, PA man to 20 years in prison for 2 counts of rape, concluding a years-long effort to solve multiple cold cases. Hayim Raison was arrested after DNA tests on previously untested sexual assault kits helped lead to his arrest and guilty plea for 2 counts of Rape Second Degree. DNA evidence revealed that between January 2014 and December 2018, Raison raped 7 women in secluded areas throughout Wilmington, making violent threats in many of the attacks. In order to resolve the case with the certainty of guilty pleas and to not put the victims through the difficulty and uncertainty of a trial, guilty pleas to 2 counts were accepted by prosecutors after consultation with the victims. However, the sentencing process recognized the attacks against all 7 women and all 7 were given the opportunity to testify before the judge as part of the sentencing. Deputy Attorneys General Eric Zubrow and Colleen Durkin secured Raison’s plea. Also instrumental to the investigation and prosecution were Social Worker Lisa Rapko of the Department of Justice; Social Worker Stephanie Hamilton of the Wilmington Police Department; and Dets. James Tobin and Sarah Bozeman of the Wilmington Police Department.

Print