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Suspected serial rapist arrested in Indianapolis after DNA breaks case

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Suspected serial rapist arrested in Indianapolis after DNA breaks case


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A man investigators believe is a serial rapist is in custody more than 13 years after the first case was reported to police.

All of the rape investigations took place in the same area of the city’s north side between 2013-2024. The Marion County Prosecutor announced May 6 that Leonel Catalán-Torreblanca is facing 30 counts tied to the cases.

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The 49-year-old’s charges include rape, sexual battery, criminal confinement, kidnapping, burglary and strangulation. Catalán-Torreblanca, who is in the country illegally, had his DNA collected during an unrelated Homeland Security Investigations case. It was matched to the rape cases using the FBI’s DNA database, CODIS.

The details about how Catalán-Torreblanca entered the country or what the other investigation was about were not released. He’s been in custody since April 23.

“This arrest is a clear reminder that advances in DNA technology and the FBI CODIS database are powerful tools in identifying and apprehending violent offenders,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley.

“For years, investigators refused to let these survivors be forgotten, continuing to pursue every lead until DNA technology identified the defendant,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. “No matter how much time passes, our commitment to seeking justice never wavers.”

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A probable cause affidavit for his arrest, listing the details of each rape, paints a picture of a man who would sneak into women’s apartments, sometimes wearing a mask and gardening gloves. He would try to cover their mouths and faces with their own clothing or items before leaving after the violent assaults.

“These aren’t just cases. These are real victims and lives forever changed,” IMPD Deputy Chief of Investigations Kendale Adams said. “We recognize all that these victims endured, and I hope this arrest sends a clear message. IMPD will continue to work relentlessly to hold offenders accountable and seek justice for those who are victimized.” 

Leonel Catalan-Torreblanca’s DNA allegedly tied to 5 rapes

At 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2024, police were called about a welfare check at an apartment complex in the 9500 block of Benchmark Drive.

The woman they met at the scene told detectives it was around midnight that she awoke to a man standing over her bed. After sexually assaulting her, he instructed her to sit inside the tub in her bathroom. She stayed in the tub for hours unsure if he had left. At some point she ran warm water because she was cold.

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When she saw it was daylight outside and didn’t hear any noise, she grabbed a pair of scissors and ran out the front door to get help from a neighbor. She was taken to St. Vincent Hospital for an examination.

Police report of a rape at the same complex in 2016

At 5:56 a.m. on Oct. 23, 2016, police were called to a nearby apartment complex at a unit in the 9500 block of Guilford Drive. A woman told a detective that she fell asleep around 3 a.m. on her couch; when she woke up, feeling hot, so she opened her patio door and left the screen door closed.

Around 4 a.m., she woke back up to a man standing in front of her. He tied a shirt around her mouth and took one of her scarves to tie her hands behind her back.

During the assault, she asked him why he was doing this, and court documents state that he said, “Because I like it and because I like you.” After the assault he left through the patio door.

Another police report at the same complex in 2016

The month before, at 7:46 a.m. Sept. 3, 2016, police were called to the same apartment complex one street over in the 9500 block of Carlyle Drive. A woman told police a man had come into her apartment and raped her, according to court documents, and she was taken to Community Hospital North for an exam.

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She was asleep, according to court documents, before she was awoken to a blanket being placed around her face. She heard a man with an accent say, “Please, don’t look. Please don’t move,” before the assault. She told the detective that he used a pair of her leggings to tie her hands behind her back and cover her mouth.

“Next time, don’t leave the door unlocked,” he said after the assault, according to court records.

A rape report was taken in the same area in 2015

At 4:44 a.m. on June 27, 2015, police were called about a rape that happened in the same area in her apartment in the 9400 block of Barcroft Drive.

According to court documents, the woman told a detective that a man got inside her apartment through a sliding glass door on her upper balcony before being assaulted in her bed.

After the assault, investigators wrote in court documetns, the man said, “Don’t tell anyone. Don’t move for five minutes. I have people outside, and they’ll know. You should be careful next time and make sure all your doors are locked.”

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A rape report was taken in 2013

At about 7 a.m. on March 24, 2013, a detective was made aware of a sexual assault reported at St. Vincent Hospital, according to court documents. A woman told the detective that the night before, around 10:30 p.m., she and a friend had ordered a taxi to go to a bar downtown. After a few drinks, they went back to her apartment.

She thought her friend had locked the door when she left, so the woman went to sleep around 4 a.m. About 20 minutes awoke to being assaulted by a man.

She described the man as wearing a black mask, and he tied a scarf around her throat. After the assault, court documents said the man began “tucking” her into bed before leaving and said that if she ever told anyone, he would be back. After leaving, she got up and noticed that the keys to her door were missing from her purse. She grabbed a knife and ran to a neighbor’s apartment.

Sexual assault victims are encouraged to reach out to IMPD’s Sex Crimes Office by calling 317-327-3330. If anyone has any information related to these cases, investigators want them to reach out.

Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

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Affordable housing project breaks ground in Indy’s Bates-Hendricks neighborhood

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Affordable housing project breaks ground in Indy’s Bates-Hendricks neighborhood


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The southeast neighborhood development broke ground today with the goal of bringing affordable housing access.

It’s located in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood.

The East Street Flats will have five residential units and one commercial unit. Officials say the project is designed to increase access to quality affordable housing.

‘And as Bates-Hendricks has transformed…then the neighborhood is understanding that transformation. Leave no one behind, provide opportunity to everyone,” Major Joe Hogsett said Monday during the announcement.

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Officials say grants and redevelopment programs helped fund the flats.

This article was written using a script that was aired on WISH-TV.



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IND airport to launch first CLEAR+ checkpoint in Indiana

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IND airport to launch first CLEAR+ checkpoint in Indiana


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Officials at the Indianapolis International Airport are gearing up to open the first CLEAR+ checkpoint in the state.

New York City-based CLEAR operates biometric identification systems at airports and entertainment venues across the country. IND will join 60 other U.S. airports in adding a CLEAR+ checkpoint.

The service is fully voluntary. The company says it offers a quicker way to get through airport security checkpoints.

“Enjoy faster, frictionless experiences at airports, arenas, and everywhere in between,” CLEAR said about its services on its website.

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CLEAR+ uses facial features and other data to create a distinctive biometric ID for members.

The company also claims its members save on average four hours per year going through security at events.

CLEAR and IND officials will officially launch the new CLEAR+ checkpoint on Tuesday, ahead of what’s expected to be a busy summer travel season.



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How Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stays ready in crunch time

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How Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stays ready in crunch time


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Saturday night inside Mohegan Sun Arena, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham caught fire in crunch time.

Cunningham returned in Saturday’s road matchup against the Connecticut Sun after missing the previous game with a right elbow injury.

On Saturday, Cunningham scored 11 consecutive points in the final two minutes of Saturday’s 85-75 win against the Sun and hit a season-high three triples, all in the last two minutes.

Cunningham told reporters how she’s always prepared for the moment when her number is called.

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“You just have to stay ready,” Cunnigham said. “I think that’s kind of been my whole career is you’ve got to control what you can control, and that’s about being a pro. You can’t always control when you’re going to be out there, who you’re going to be out there with. But you got to make it count, and so I did that tonight, but also shoutout to my teammates for getting me the ball when I was open.”

Both Cunningham and Caitlin Clark shared the floor down the stretch of Saturday’s double-digit win. Clark finished with 25 points and connected on five triples, her second-most threes in a game all season.

While it is usually Clark hitting the game-sealing type of shots most fans are used to, this time, it was Cunningham’s moment to put the game on ice.

Cunningham described how much energy she gets from playing alongside Clark and the rest of Indiana’s star-studded lineup.

“I like playing with C [Caitlin Clark],” Cunningham said. “I think that C is an aggressor, I think that AB [Aliyah Boston] is an aggressor, I think Kelsey’s [Mitchel] an aggressor. When you have three elite players like that who all can dominate a game and take over a game, it’s really up to you, so when you get the ball, you can do what you do. I think that you just have to have a feel for the game. Sometimes the energy is low, so you have to go out there and be the aggressor and bring the energy up. But when they already have it, you just got slide right in and don’t drop the energy.”

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Cunningham is averaging 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game through 12 games played this season.

The Fever are currently 8-5 and will host the Toronto Tempo inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse this Tuesday, June 16th.



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