Atlanta Serial Rapist Pleads Guilty to Multiple Assault Charges, Linked to Additional Sexual Assaults
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by guilty plea in the case against Demetrius Samuel Roam, 22, who has been linked to several additional sexual assaults with a similar fact pattern. On Tuesday, Roam pleaded guilty to two counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault Strangulation, Aggravated Assault with Intent to Rape, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Aggravated Sodomy, and Rape stemming from assaults on two women within a week in October 2020.
On October 17, 2020, DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) officers responded to a call at an apartment complex at 2500 Shallowford Road in Atlanta, where Roam lived with a family member. A 20-year-old female victim reported being assaulted after meeting Roam through social media. Roam allegedly dragged the victim into his apartment, strangled her, and attempted to force her to undress. The victim managed to escape and sought help from a neighbor.
On October 23, 2020, another female victim, 22, reported a similar assault at the same apartment complex. Roam allegedly used a chokehold, forced the victim into a closet, and raped her. A distinct red tattoo on Roam’s neck was noted by the victim.
Investigations linked Roam to a 2019 cold rape case at the same complex. Both victims identified him in a lineup. Roam was arrested on October 24, 2020, and admitted to having sex with the second victim but initially denied the assault on the first victim. He eventually confessed to taking the victim’s belongings and led police to the location where he had discarded them.
Roam has been connected to additional assaults, including a rape at the complex in October 2020, an attempted assault in August 2019, two rapes in Clayton County in late 2019, and four rapes in Birmingham, Alabama between September 2019 and August 2020. He is also suspected of other unreported assaults.
After entering a non-negotiated guilty plea, Roam was sentenced by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha F. Jackson to 50 years to serve plus life on probation. He is required to register as a sex offender and is banned from social media for life. Roam is not eligible for early release on the custodial portion of his sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Furhawn Shah, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Johnson, and District Attorney Investigators Shawna Barber and Chrissa Lynch. Det. Moore of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation.
