Rape suspect Hubert Lee has reportedly fled the US Virgin Islands and is believed to be hiding on the mainland. Photo: VIC

The suspect, Hubert Lee, who police say is between 23-25 years old, fled the territory after the incident and is believed to be hiding on the mainland. He was last seen in North Carolina, according to police.

Mr Lee is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs between 160-165 pounds, has a low haircut, and is of a very dark complexion, according to the VIPD. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a $25,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to Mr Lee’s apprehension. Tips can be made through Crime Stoppers USVI or P3Tips.com.

The commissioner recently told The Consortium that the force was withholding Mr Lee’s identity based on a request from detectives, who urged Mr Richards to give them at least the end of last week, suggesting that the investigators may have been following some strong leads.

“They’re trying to see if they could slow him down somewhat, so the investigators asked me for the weekend and I’m going to grant them that,” the commissioner said last Saturday. “If nothing develops by today, the VIPD is expected to open up the hunt for the third suspect to everyone by releasing his identity.”

With the force revealing the identity of the suspect, it appears that investigators’ leads were not producing the results they had hoped for.

Identities revealed

As for the suspects captured by the force, their identities were revealed during a May 19, 2017 press briefing. The first suspect identified by police was 18-year-old Link Baltimore Jr, who was charged with first-degree rape, kidnap for rape, third-degree burglary, unauthorised possession of a stolen vehicle, and first-degree robbery. The second suspect was identified as Youan Rodriquez, 22, who was charged with first-degree rape, kidnap for rape, third-degree burglary, and first-degree assault.

The two other individuals that the force arrested were Carl Cornelius, age 19 — charged with possession of stolen property, after a search warrant was executed and items were recovered that were removed from a home during the commission of a burglary. And Bethzaida Berrios, age 50, who was charged with possession of stolen property, after a search warrant was executed at her residence and property recovered that was reported stolen from a burglary.

The commissioner explained during the briefing that the primary suspects involved in the rape incident had not only stolen the white truck to commit the crime, but they had heisted multiple items from the burglary victim’s residence. The primary suspects were also connected to other burglaries, the commissioner said. The two suspects who were charged with possession of stolen property — the 19-year-old and 50-year-old — corralled the stolen items, the commissioner said.

Asked whether the suspects were involved in the recent Salt River incident that had similarities to the East End rape crime, the commissioner said while the force could not say for sure yet, they were not ruling out the possibility.

The incident took place on the East End Road, according to police. Two females were driving when suddenly a white double cab truck rear-ended them, prompting the victims to stop the vehicle. One female stepped out of the vehicle and was taken by the three assailants elsewhere and raped. The second victim managed to escape, according to police.