Serial Rapist Sentenced to 1,030 years

by CJaye | November 11, 2008 at 09:43 am

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"He overwhelmed her, He knew in his mind, he knew in his heart, what he was there to do. To rape her." Ten years later Rathbun has finally got what he deserves. Margaret Gentry has finally got her justice as well. One of Rathbun's victims she refuses to let him win. After being repeatedly raped by this animal Margaret is an elderly women who talks about the rape to help her cope.

At 38, Mark Wayne Rathbun is many things.

A man with a bright future isn't one of them.

Known in Long Beach, Calif., as the "Belmont Shore Rapist," Rathbun was convicted in California of 59 counts related to the rapes of 10 women and is four years into a 1,030-year sentence. Should he make it to the next millennium, he still faces 10 life sentences to be served consecutively.

Now, King County prosecutors aim to build on that sentence by bringing to conclusion the investigation into three Ballard rapes reported in 1996. He faces three counts of first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree burglary.

In opening statements Tuesday, Deputy Prosecutor Sean O'Donnell accused Rathbun of breaking into the homes of three women and sexually assaulting them as they slept. Rathbun, O'Donnell said, operated with "ferocity, surprise and stealth," observing the women in their homes before sneaking into their bedrooms nude.