Stephen Paul Gale was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday for the rapes of two women in Massachusetts. He has been identified as the “Boston Strip Mall Rapist.”

Gale, 71, is accused of a series of rapes in Massachusetts over three decades ago. 

The arrest followed a tense 1½-hour pursuit involving the Los Angeles Police Department. Gale, who had been on the run for years, was finally apprehended thanks to the combined efforts of local and federal law enforcement.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, “Gale was recently identified through genetic genealogy as the subject responsible for a series of rapes in Boston from 1989 to 1990.” 

Gale was dubbed the "Boston Strip Mall Rapist" during the initial investigation.

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Boston Strip Mall Rapist

Despite his efforts to evade capture, Gale’s identity was revealed, and he was last seen in 2008 before resurfacing in Los Angeles.

The charges against Gale stem from a horrific incident in 1989, where he allegedly kidnapped and raped two women at a clothing store in Framingham, Massachusetts. 

The charges, brought against him in May of this year, include four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery.

"This crime has haunted the Framingham community for decades, but none of us ever gave up hope or forgot about them," Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker said. His words reflect the persistent efforts of law enforcement and the enduring pain felt by the community.

Decades-Old Massachusetts Crime

On the morning of December 27, 1989, Gale allegedly entered the Hit or Miss Store in Framingham, where he encountered two female employees. 

According to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Gale forced the two women into the back of the store at gunpoint. He compelled one victim to empty the cash register and her own purse, while the second victim was ordered to place a sign on the door indicating the store would open late.

Gale then subjected both women to a terrifying ordeal, forcing them to undress and isolating them in separate rooms at the back of the store.

 “He sexually assaulted both women while holding the gun to their heads,” according to a press release from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office.

Fortunately, when Gale moved to the front of the store, the victims managed to escape through a rear fire door and sought refuge in a nearby home.

DNA Analysis Solves the Case

The breakthrough in this cold case came over a decade later when evidence collected from the crime scene was used to create a DNA profile in 2001. 

However, Gale’s identity remained a mystery since he wasn’t in any of the existing DNA databases at the time.

"This crime has haunted the Framingham community for decades, but none of us ever gave up hope or forgot about them," Chief Baker emphasized the emotional toll the crime has taken on the community.

The case saw new momentum in 2022 when Middlesex County prosecutors and Framingham police employed “investigative genetic genealogy.” 

This innovative technique allowed investigators to match DNA evidence from the crime scene with samples from Gale’s family, ultimately leading to his identification.

Gale’s Capture 

The U.S. Marshals Service initiated a nationwide manhunt for Gale, who had been living under various aliases in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

 By May 2024, Gale was formally charged with the crimes in Massachusetts, and the pursuit to bring him to justice intensified.

“I would first like to commend the victims in this case for their strength and tenacity and for the courage they have shown throughout this investigation,” Chief Baker said, expressing admiration for the resilience of those affected by Gale’s actions.

A $5,000 reward had been offered for information leading to Gale’s arrest, but “recent investigative efforts by the USMS in the District of Nevada and elsewhere” were credited for the crucial leads that led to his capture.

Now, after more than three decades, the man known as the Boston Strip Mall Rapist faces justice for the crimes he committed.