By Matthew Gruchow and Josh Verges | ArgusLeader.com
Imprisoned for almost his entire adult life, a Sioux Falls man was released on parole only three months before he was arrested again Friday for the brutal rape of a 22-year-old woman from Ethiopia.
Christopher Kryger, 34, made his first court appearance Monday on charges of first-degree kidnapping and burglary, aggravated assault and forcible rape.
Bond was set at $250,000 cash.
Police say Kryger broke into the woman’s apartment Friday evening in the 600 block of West Bennett Street and assaulted her physically and sexually.
“We don’t have any clue how he picked that house,” police spokesman Sam Clemens said. “It’s fairly rare; we don’t have rapes that occur when the victim and suspect have no idea who each other are.”
The past three months of Kryger’s life have been the first of relative freedom since age 18.
He spent almost 16 years in prison before he was paroled Sept. 3 – 11 years before his full prison term was up – under the Community Transition Program, which helps offenders find work and save money.
He had been in prison on two aggravated assault convictions, the arrest for which came in October 1992, only weeks after two other arrests for starting a fire in an occupied home and grand theft and burglary.
Friday’s apparently random attack came to an end when the victim’s brothers arrived at the apartment, chased Kryger down the hallway and detained him until police officers arrived.
Officers had to resuscitate the woman, who did not appear to be breathing. She was taken to a hospital, but her injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Tesfaye Balcha, who lives in an neighboring apartment building, said he and the woman worked together for several months at a nearby plastics business.
Balcha and the woman both are Ethiopian, he said.
“She is a nice woman,” he said. “She is a good girl.”
Balcha said the assault scares him.
“We’re a little afraid now,” he said. “We get worried that maybe something like this might happen to us.”
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23, but the date could change if Kryger is indicted.
Email This Post |
FORUM | 9 Comments
lucky woman and great help from neighbor atleast to save her life.it is scary .
hope the victim will recover soon.
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 PM
wondim lemeche brave ethiopian brother
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:51 PM
May he rote in hell.
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 PM
I’ll say it, too bad the brothers didn’t cut his throat in self defense. No doubt, this monster will be out again in few years to rape more women, and destroy lives of more families.
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 PM
that guy must be a TPLF thug
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 PM
What a horrible ordeal she went through. I hope her brother kicked that worthless piece of s—t in the groin for good; let’s hope they lock him up for the rest of his life.
I wish her a speedy recovery. May God ease her traumatizing experience.
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 PM
this is how true Ethiopian brother act, we should stand together and get rid of meles who has been raping our mother Ethiopia for many years.
[Reply]
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:18 AM
Very scary incidence,she is lucky that stupid, nonsense,idiot, psychotic and sadistic man didn’t kill her.
Both guys and girls have pepper spray in hand in case anything happens it gives temporary protection.It is an advice from law enforcement agents.
[Reply]
December 24th, 2008 at 1:08 AM
thank you my dear, may God Bless You. I hope the girl will be recover soon.
[Reply]
December 24th, 2008 at 2:14 AM