PIPESTEM, W.Va. — A Summers County man is behind bars for allegedly raping and strangling multiple women over the last decade, according to State Police.
Matthew Keaton, 29, of Pipestem, was arrested twice over the last week and charged with sexually assaulting six women in both Summers and Mercer counties, but troopers said there could be more victims.
“We have several that have came forward so far, but he’s only charged with six different victims,” Trooper First Class J.C. Woods of Hinton State Police Detachment told MetroNews Wednesday.
Woods said the women were drugged and violently raped while being recorded.
“There were images and possibly videos of Mr. Keaton choking these women until they passed out,” he said.
The accusations date back to when Keaton was 18 years old. All six women knew Keaton and were different ages.
“Some were approximately 10 years younger than he was,” Woods said. “Some of were girlfriends that got away or one night stands.”
Keaton was first arrested on Oct. 20 for second degree sexual assault, first degree sexual abuse, strangulation, criminal invasion of privacy and unlawful restraint. He made bond and was released from jail.
As more victims came forward, police arrested Keaton again on Monday for five counts of strangulation, two counts of first degree sexual abuse, three counts of second degree sexual assault, two counts of domestic battery, one count of unlawful restraint and one count of criminal invasion of privacy.
Keaton had no prior criminal history. Woods said Keaton was a licensed practical nurse.
Keaton is being held in the Southern Regional Jail on a total of $330,000 cash bail.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Trooper Woods at the Hinton State Police Detachment at (304)-466-2800.