Life coach charged with hostage-taking and rape
A "life coach" who allegedly took several women hostage and raped them has been charged by the Mosbach public prosecutor's office - together with his younger brother. The now 38-year-old and his 24-year-old brother were arrested a good year ago in Walldürn (Neckar-Odenwald district).
The public prosecutor's office has charged the older man with three counts of hostage-taking, multiple counts of aggravated rape and multiple counts of grievous bodily harm and threats. His younger brother is accused of aiding and abetting the hostage-taking and particularly serious rape, among other things. He is also alleged to have raped and injured women himself.
The 38-year-old, who called himself a "life coach", is said to have offered online seminars as well as a "boot camp for personal development" at his home in Walldürn. According to the public prosecutor's office on Thursday, he wanted to make contact with young women and systematically unsettle them. He sexually abused and physically abused seven women at his home. In the hundreds of pages long indictment, he is also accused of physically abusing six other people.
In October last year, one of the victims managed to make an emergency call. This is how the case came to light. While the 38-year-old is in custody, the arrest warrant for his brother was suspended a few weeks ago. The Mosbach district court must decide whether to admit the charges - in which case the case would go to trial.
The "life coach" also conducted online seminars, potentially using the anonymity of the Internet to attract victims. His criminal activities extended beyond the physical realm, as he allegedly used the internet to establish contact with his victims.
Source: www.dpa.com
