DATE: July 31, 2025
SUBJECT: Suspect Arrested for Rape and Theft
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-NR-0731
CONTACT: Lt. Doug Daza
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Chicago-area man on multiple charges, including Rape, Felony Intimidation, Felony Theft, and Organized Theft. The arrest follows an investigation that began on a roadside in western Vanderburgh County.
In the early morning hours of July 31, deputies were dispatched to the area of University Parkway and Marx Road. Upon arrival, deputies located a female inside a vehicle who reported that she had been raped by an acquaintance at a hotel on Weston Road. She stated that the suspect had threatened to kill her and her children. After the suspect fell asleep, she fled the hotel in his truck and contacted a friend, who then called 911.
The suspect, identified as Craig Anthony Bryan, was located and taken into custody without incident. Detectives interviewed the victim, another occupant of the hotel room, and Bryan. Bryan denied raping the victim. However, text messages exchanged between the victim and Bryan corroborated the threats. Search warrants were obtained for the hotel room, the suspect’s vehicle, cell phone, and DNA samples.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that Bryan had traveled to Evansville with the intent to steal a small backhoe from a local business. Bryan admitted that he had paid a third party to rent the equipment from Home Depot using the third party’s name. The arrangement was for the third party to pay the rental fee and then turn the backhoe over to Bryan, who would transport it out of state in exchange for payment. The equipment would then presumably be sold to individuals knowingly purchasing stolen property. While Bryan had not yet taken possession of the backhoe, he had completed the rental process online. The theft was ultimately thwarted due to the rape investigation.
The co-conspirators have been identified, and case files will be submitted to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office for review. Bryan also admitted to stealing similar equipment from a Home Depot in Illinois, and detectives will be contacting authorities in that jurisdiction. Other state and federal agencies are being notified to determine if Bryan is connected to additional crimes. He admitted to attempting similar thefts at other Home Depot locations between Evansville and the Chicago area but claimed he traveled here after failing to locate suitable equipment elsewhere.
ARRESTED:
Craig Anthony Bryan, 35, Streamwood, IL
CHARGES:
- Rape – Level 1 Felony
- Intimidation – Level 6 Felony
- Conspiracy to Commit Theft – Level 6 Felony
- Conspiracy to Commit Organized Theft – Level 6 Felony
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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