Police warn that a man accused of raping and disfiguring a woman he held captive for six months in his California house may have additional victims.
Peter McGuire, 59, of Chino Hills, is accused of rapping, gouging out her eye, ‘disableing’ her tongue, and slitting her nose, ear, and lip on his 22-year-old roommate.
According to the LA Times, the victim, 22, went into McGuire’s home but when she chose to leave, he refused to let her go and detained her against her will.
McGuire has since pled not guilty to ten counts of kidnapping, mayhem, and forcible sodomy.
‘Investigators suspect there may be further victims,’ Mara Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, told DailyMail.com.
‘The update from yesterday was to disclose [McGuire’s] photo in order to see if there are any other victims we aren’t aware of,’ Rodriguez explained. ‘At this time, I am not aware of any other victims coming forward.’
McGuire is being incarcerated at the West Valley Detention Center and is due back in court on July 27, 2022.
Neighbors in the calm residential cul-de-sac were shocked to learn of the heinous assault that was taking place behind closed doors.
McGuire was characterized as a kind guy who had lived at the property on and off for at least ten years and would routinely come by to handle upkeep by a longtime neighbor who begged not to be recognized.
He claimed he’d never seen any proof of girls entering or exiting the building.
‘He would come by and do maintenance on his home. I only saw him out in his driveway when I saw him and he would wave and I would wave,’ the neighbor said.
‘He seemed okay and nothing odd stood out to me about him,’ he said.
He said McGuire owned a detective agency and that he figured the three vehicles he kept in his driveway, one of them being a pickup truck, was part of his business.
‘I am greatly surprised Pete was involved. I heard he got in trouble,’ said the neighbor, who described the cul-de-sac that has about 10 homes in the court as quiet. ‘Everyone keeps to themselves for the most part. I don’t know what was going on but, I guess you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. ‘
Another resident, who lives about a mile away from Cordovan Court, told the DailyMail.com that she was ‘shocked’ by the news describing it as ‘frightening.’
‘I am shocked. It’s atrocious. I feel so sorry for the young girl,’ the woman said, who did not want to be identified. ‘We have parks and dog parks and it is very family-oriented, quiet-area. Something like this doesn’t happen here.’
She added: ‘I am glad he is locked up now.’
Last Thursday night, the woman was able to flee the house and call 911.
She was discovered in a neighboring park and transported to the hospital, where her condition is stable.
‘He [McGuire] held her there against her will, and she was assaulted many times throughout that time.’ Rodriguez stated, “We have charges of sodomy and oral copulation, mayhem, and rape.”
McGuire was apprehended at 8.30 a.m. on Friday after barricading himself inside another residence in Placenta, Orange County.
According to ABC7.com, a SWAT squad tore the door off the front garage and proceeded inside to grab McGuire, who surrendered following an hours-long standoff.
McGuire entered not guilty pleas to all allegations, including kidnapping, mayhem, and sodomy by force, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office. McGuire is due back in court on Thursday.
McGuire is now being imprisoned at the West Valley Detention Center and is due back in court on July 27, 2022.
Prosecutors said five of the counts include particular allegations of infliction of grave bodily damage and delivering a prohibited drug during a sex offense.
According to sheriff’s officials, the woman told detectives she had been tormented, physically beaten, and raped over a period of months.
‘The victim had apparent injuries consistent with the charges made,’ according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Department.