The retired Michigan sergeant who is accused of serial rape faces a 6th charge for an alleged sexual assault in 2002 on a 14 year old. Benjamin Wagner (68), a North Carolina man, has been linked to several abductions, sexual assaults, and extortions that occurred in Detroit’s West Side between 1999-2003 against young women aged 14 to 23. Click on Detroit reports. Wagner’s most recent charge stems from an October 15, 2002 incident. The prosecution alleged Wagner had stopped a girl aged 14 as she was walking to a bus stop near Outer Drive on Trinity Street to catch a school ride. The investigation revealed that Wagner forced the 14-year-old girl into a private area, where she sexually assaulted the victim. The survivor is now 37 and this represents the start of her long-awaited journey to justice.
Kym Worthy of Wayne County prosecutor Kym County said, “She’s lived with the trauma for 23 years.” She praised her survivor’s courage to choose to bring her attacker to justice. Investigators identified Wagner’s consistent, predatory and “double-life” while he was with the Detroit Police Department.
Six cases are currently in the file and all were within a radius of 5.5 miles from Wagner’s old residence at Bentler Street. Wagner is facing several serious felony counts in this case. These include Kidnapping and First-Degree Sexual Conduct (two counts), as well as Third-Degree Sexual Conduct (two counts). Wagner’s attorney insists on his client having no criminal history and that the allegations are unproven. Wagner’s sexual assaults are listed below in chronological order. The alleged attacks began around 1999:
- Wagner, allegedly pointed a firearm at a woman aged 17 before sexually abusing her on November 10, 1999. As she was walking home after work, the victim’s direction was changed away from Chalfonte Street and Mark Twain.
- On January 31, 2000, a 23-year old woman was sexually assaulted after Wagner held a gun to her head and ordered the victim away from an area in the 18400-block of Wyoming.
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Wagner is accused of shooting a pistol at a 15 year old girl on September 28th, 2000 in Florence’s 19800 area.
It is alleged that he grabbed his victim while she was walking to the school bus, and sexually assaulted.
- On November 19, 2000, a 20-year old woman who was walking to the home of a friend in the 8500 Block West McNichols was assaulted from behind. Wagner has been accused of forcing the victim to another location and then sexually assaulting after putting a gun in her back.
- Wagner was charged with the sixth offense and latest charge on October 15, 2002, against a girl aged 14.
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On April 15, 2003, Wagner allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year old girl after she was kidnapped in the 19000 Block of Ferguson.
He then took her somewhere else. According to Click on Detroit, Judge Shawn Jacque will preside at a probable-cause conference on the 7th of April. This is followed by a subsequent court appearance on the 14th. Please check back often for the latest updates. Subscribe to the podcast ‘Crime Stories With Nancy Grace’ for the most recent news on true crimes and justice.
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[Feature Photo via Chicago PD]
