HINTON, W.Va. — More victims are coming forward to report sexual assault allegations against a Summers County man who has been behind bars since Oct. 2021.
State Police in Hinton told MetroNews Tuesday seven additional woman have accused Matthew Keaton of drugging and raping them over the last few years, bringing the total number of victims to 13.
Keaton, 29, of Pipestem, was arrested back in October and charged with six counts of sexual assault in Summers and Mercer counties. He has appeared for two preliminary hearings on the charges in each of those counties since then.
“All of his charges have been bound over to the grand jury and he will be indicted on additional charges from additional victims that came forward,” said Trooper First Class J.C. Woods of the State Police Hinton Detachment.
Woods said the women were strangled and violently raped while being recorded.
“What he’s being accused of is drugging with sleep aids and other kinds of medications and taking advantage of these females,” he said.
Since October, Woods said additional DNA evidence, photos and videos dating back to 2016 have been collected and have been sent to the State Police Forensic Lab.
The accusations date back to when Keaton was 18 years old. The victims knew Keaton and were different ages, some 10 years younger than him.
Keaton was first arrested on Oct. 20, 2021 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. He was arrested again a few days later.
Keaton now faces charges of strangulation, sexual abuse, second degree sexual assault, domestic battery, unlawful restraint and criminal invasion of privacy.
Woods said he believes more victims are out there and that the punishment could be severe.
“To be completely honest, if convicted, there’s a possibility of life in prison,” he said.
Keaton is being held in the Southern Regional Jail. His case heads to the grand jury next month.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Trooper Woods at the Hinton State Police Detachment at (304)-466-2800.