For Immediate Release August 10, 2007

Contact: Corey Welford/Meredith Lerner 617-679-6522

LOWELL – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office informed the public today that an Ayer man was found guilty in connection with a home invasion and attack of a 39-year-old woman in her Ayer apartment on March 9, 2006.

A Middlesex Superior Court jury found David Coutu, age 45, guilty of aggravated rape, home invasion, armed robbery, kidnapping, burning of personal property, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and mayhem. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Jane Haggerty ordered the defendant held until his sentencing hearing on September 28 at 9:00 a.m. in Lowell Superior Court.

“The jury today has rightly found the defendant guilty for these brutal acts against a defenseless victim,” District Attorney Leone said. “The victim was put through a devastating, horrific ordeal and we commend her bravery in coming forward and helping us prove this case against this dangerous convicted predator.”

According to authorities, on March 9, 2006, at 4:19 a.m., the Ayer Police Department received a cell phone 911 call transfer from State Police, requesting an ambulance at 41 West Main Street. The caller indicated to the dispatcher that a resident of the building was injured. Police found a 39-year-old female resident evidencing multiple physical injuries. The woman told investigators at the scene that a man had broken into her apartment through the vacant apartment’s wall next door using a crowbar, and then he raped her.First responders on scene also smelled smoke in the building and called for the Fire Department. Firefighters found evidence of a small fire in the bathtub in the victim’s apartment that had been put out with a fire extinguisher prior to their arrival. The victim was transported to Nashoba Valley Medical Center and later transported by helicopter to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston.

State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office were called to the scene and assisted the Ayer Police and Fire Departments in the investigation. Investigators from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services also assisted in the investigation.

Through further investigation, including analysis of forensic evidence by the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory, investigators determined that Coutu broke into the victim’s apartment and assaulted her, both physically and sexually. Ayer Police sought and obtained a warrant for Coutu’s arrest from Ayer District Court on March 16, 2006. Coutu was placed under arrest shortly before 10:00 p.m. that same night by Manchester, NH Police.

On Friday, March 17, 2006, Coutu was arraigned as a fugitive from justice in New Hampshire. Coutu did not waive rendition at that time, and therefore was not returned to Massachusetts. He was ordered held on $100,000 bail in New Hampshire, while Massachusetts authorities worked to obtain a Governor’s Warrant to return him to the Commonwealth. On March 23, 2006, a Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against Coutu for aggravated rape, home invasion, mayhem, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. Coutu was arraigned in Lowell Superior Court on April 26, 2006.

The Middlesex Grand Jury returned additional indictments against Coutu on August 15, 2006. He was charged with 4 additional counts of aggravated rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, and burning of personal property. He was arraigned again in Lowell Superior court on August 28, 2006.

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Dunigan. The victim witness advocate was Dorothy Berrios.

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