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MIAMI (AP) – A man suspected of being the “pillowcase rapist” in a string of rapes in South Florida in the 1980s was sentenced Monday for a separate assault.
A Miami-Dade County jury found Robert Koehler, 66, guilty of sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery after deliberating for less than two hours. His sentencing is scheduled for November 24th.
Monday’s conviction involves a 22-year-old woman who was raped in 1984 after someone broke into her southwest Miami-Dade County home. Koehler was sentenced nearly three years ago to 17 years in prison for a similar attack on a 25-year-old woman in 1983.
Authorities claim the “pillowcase rapist” invaded homes at night and terrorized his victims. The attacker covered his face or the victim’s face with a pillowcase or other fabric, then assaulted the victim, tied him up and stole from the house.
The assault received extensive media attention in South Florida, and authorities established a task force to investigate. The pursuit cooled until 2020, when authorities announced that police were searching for Koehler after a DNA hit on one of his relatives.
Prosecutors have said Koehler’s DNA has been linked to at least 25 attacks, but the number of victims could number more than 40.
