Caught: Manhunt for convicted child rapist who escaped during his trial is over

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, Mass. — Stephen Corbin, the man who disappeared three days into his rape trial in Woburn, was captured in Farmingdale, Maine Friday, weeks after he vanished.

“It’s a great relief to have that happen,” Middlesex County DA Marian Ryan said. “This is somebody who is convicted of some very serious crimes.”

Convicted child rapist Stephen Corbin was captured in Farmingdale, Maine by Massachusetts State Police, the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, and US Marshals.

He disappeared on April 11th, on the third day of his six day trial in Woburn.

Police say Corbin’s court ordered GPS device was found cut in North Street in Andover.

State officials developed information that Corbin may be at a residence in Farmingdale. Task force members went to the house this morning and observed a car pull up with Corbin in it as a passenger, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

“They went to a house, when they got to that house, they happened to see a car arriving,” DA Ryan said. “Corbin was a passenger in that car. He was placed under arrest, and then they found the firearm.

Stephen Corbin, 38, of Methuen went missing days into his trial last month for the sexual assaults of a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office. He was convicted in absentia of eight counts of aggravated rape of a child.

Corbin was accused of assaulting the girls on multiple occasions at a home in Lexington and a motel in Bedford in 2017. Following his arrest that year, he was released on $25,000 cash bail and ordered to wear a GPS tracker. Authorities say Corbin cut off that tracker during his trial. He was in the area of North Street in Andover at the time, according to the district attorney

“This is a relatively rare occurrence, to be in the middle of trial and then suddenly the alleged perpetrator disappears,” DA Ryan said.

Corbin is charged as a fugitive from justice and felon in possession of a firearm by Maine authorities.

“When a court releases you with a GPS bracelet, there needs to be an understanding that if you don’t comply with the terms of that, or if you remove the bracelet, we are not going to be inactive in looking for you and continuing to pursue you, and having you held accountable,” DA Ryan continued.

Corbin is due back in court for sentencing next week.

Each rape conviction carries a possible life sentence.

He will also face a new charge of being a Fugitive from Justice.

And police in Maine may charge Corbin for a firearms violation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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