A 46-year-old Boston Uber driver was arrested earlier this month for the alleged kidnapping and rape of a Cambridge woman who had requested a ride home from Tremont Street, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.
Alejandro Done of Boston was arraigned on rape, assault to rape, kidnapping and two counts of assault and battery in Cambridge District Court Wednesday morning, as Wicked Local Cambridge first reported. It’s unclear whether he used information available on the Uber app to target the unidentified victim.
On the night of Dec. 6, authorities say Done drove to a Tremont St. residence where the young woman was waiting to be picked up by a “ride-sharing” driver, Wicked Local reports. The woman got inside Done’s car, told him where she was headed, but was told by Done she needed to pay in cash.
Done allowed her to get out of the car to use an ATM, according to the DA’s Office, Wicked Local reports. When she reentered the car, Done proceeded to drive her to an unknown location she wasn’t familiar with. After stopping the car, Done allegedly jumped in the back seat, struck and proceeded to strangle the woman. He allegedly locked the doors, covered the woman’s mouth so she couldn’t scream, and sexually assaulted her.
Already facing heat in Boston for separate allegations of sexual assault reported by three women within a couple of hours of each other early Sunday morning, Uber has reportedly been cooperative. Kaitlin Durkosh, a spokesperson for Uber Boston, issued the following statement Wednesday night in response to the alleged events of Dec. 6:
This is a despicable crime and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim during her recovery. Uber has been working closely with law enforcement and will continue to do everything we can to assist their investigation.
Like the reported sexual assaults in Boston, there is no proof Done was the driver requested on the Uber app by his alleged victim; in fact, though it’s clear Done is an Uber driver, the DA’s press release only states that the victim requested a ride from a ride-sharing service (Lyft and Sidecar also operate in the Boston market, and some drivers drive for multiple services).
In each reported Sunday morning incident in Boston, police say the victims contacted Uber, but it appears at least one may have entered an impostor’s car.
The following is a statement from Middlesex DA Marian Ryan on Done’s arrest:
This alleged predator took advantage of a young woman who trusted that he was who he portrayed himself to be and exploited her vulnerability once he had her in his car,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “Every day people are engaging car services for their transportation needs, and placing their trust in them for their personal safety and security. “While these services are a convenience, and often a necessity of modern urban living, we urge everyone to take precautions to ensure they are as safe as possible.
Cambridge police said they were able to track down and identify Done using Uber company records. It’s unclear whether Cambridge PD was allowed access to Uber’s internal records or were able to gather information using driver information that would have been provided to the victim on her cellphone on the Uber app (i.e. a picture of the driver, the vehicle’s make and model and the driver’s first name). The victim later reportedly identified Done as her assailant.
Done is being held until a hearing scheduled for Dec. 24 at 9 a.m.
Screenshots via Cambridge PD
