Marblehead rape details emerge

MARBLEHEAD – Details of an alleged rape of a mentally handicapped woman inside her Marblehead home were released Monday, showing the victim was befriended by the suspect, a Domino’s Pizza deliveryman, last week at a bus stop.Smiling in his police booking photo, suspect Carl B. Caswell, 51, of 174 Pleasant St., Marblehead, pleaded innocent to charges of rape, indecent assault and battery on a mentally retarded person and intimidation of a witness Friday in Lynn District Court. Judge Dominic Paratore ordered him held on $50,000 cash bail.The 31-year-old victim came forward after her mother found evidence of a sexual assault inside her daughter’s home last Monday, according to a police report obtained in public court records.The victim, who suffers from Down Syndrome, has been living on her own for three years. Doctors told police she has the mental capacity of a 12-year-old child.Authorities say Caswell first met the victim the morning of April 26 as she was sitting at a bus stop across from the Village Plaza, which is across the street from Caswell’s home.Caswell allegedly struck up a conversation with the victim and attempted to kiss her before they got on the public bus. He then began kissing her once they got onto the bus and told her he loved her, according to authorities.Caswell allegedly telephoned the victim around 2 a.m. Sunday, but the victim did not answer so he left a voicemail saying, “I love you.”On Sunday night, Caswell allegedly arrived at the victim’s home and raped her. At one point, he allegedly pinned her down by her shoulders and removed her clothes.At another point, the victim allegedly tried to pick up the phone but Caswell told her to put it down. After the assault ended, he allegedly said he would kill her if she told police.During the assault, the victim said she was giggling because she was nervous, but had repeatedly told Caswell to stop touching her.On the morning following the alleged rape, the victim’s mother arrived at her daughter’s home while she was at work. The mother noticed her daughter’s bed was not made which she described as highly unusual, police said. The mother also found a condom wrapper and other evidence of a sexual assault.Police seized much of the evidence found in the home.Caswell has a bizarre history with the Marblehead police department that dates back 25 years.In June 1983, Caswell was arrested for attempting to bribe a Marblehead police officer. He allegedly came into the police station and placed $60 cash and a watch on the counter and told an officer it was for him.In June 1986, Caswell attempted to file a civil action against Marblehead police officer Marion Conrad for violating his civil rights because she arrested him while he was doing alleged political work.