Police arrest suspect after brutal Hood River rape

HOOD RIVER, Ore. - Hood River police arrested a man Tuesday following a rape in which the victim was tied up and sexually assaulted.

Police say they are now looking into whether Ruperto Gonzaga-Gama, 18, is tied to at least two other cases.

Investigators say Gonzaga-Gama broke into a woman's home Tuesday about 9 a.m., tied her up, sexually assaulted her and then stole her SUV.

The victim reportedly called police after freeing herself and gave a description of the suspect and her stolen vehicle.

Searchers in an aircraft spotted the stolen SUV in an orchard and guided police to the location, where they arrested Gonzaga-Gama.

Now, investigators say they will use DNA evidence from the crime scene to see if Gonzaga-Gama is connected to another rape that took place a month ago, and to a two-year-old missing persons case that is still unsolved.

Friends of a missing Hood River woman, Kim Forbes, say they cannot help but wonder if this will also somehow answer questions about her disappearance.

Forbes disappeared on Halloween night in 2004, and her SUV was found in Gresham some days later.

Detectives say they think the connection to Forbes' case is unlikely, but they are not ruling anything out.