VAN NUYS (CNS) - A man suspected of killing a nurse and raping another woman in New York is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges that he sexually assaulted and tried to kill a woman in her North Hollywood apartment after they went on a date last weekend.
Danueal Drayton, 27, of New Haven, Connecticut, is charged with one count each of attempted murder, forcible rape, false imprisonment by violence and sexual penetration by a foreign object involving the alleged attack last weekend.
Drayton is accused of sexually assaulting the 28-year-old woman, trying to strangle her and refusing to let her leave her apartment, according to Deputy District Attorney Elan Carr.
The crimes allegedly occurred last Sunday and Monday. Drayton was arrested about 5 p.m. Tuesday by Los Angeles police in North Hollywood, and could face more than 23 years to life in prison if convicted as charged.
He was wanted in New York in connection with the killing of nurse Samantha Stewart, who was found dead in her Queens apartment on July 17, as well as the rape earlier this month of a woman in Brooklyn, according to media reports.
Stewart, 29, was found dead by her father and brother, and authorities later determined that she had been strangled, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Police believe that Drayton met the women through an online dating site and that others were possibly victimized.
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