A Lake View man was ordered held on $5 million bail Tuesday for allegedly raping an “intoxicated and disoriented” woman he picked up outside the now-closed Castle Chicago nightclub three years ago.
Investigators learned recently through a check of the DNA database that there was a strong association between Robert Walters’ DNA and the DNA that was found on the victim, Cook County prosecutors said.
The woman also was able to identify Walters, 43, in a photo array earlier this month, authorities said.
The victim, then 21, had reported the incident immediately after Walters took her to his apartment in the 600 block of West Diversey Place and attacked her as she went in and out of consciousness, Assistant State’s Attorney Holly Grosshans said.
Earlier, the woman had been drinking with friends at the River North nightclub on April 14, 2013, and eventually got separated from her friends, Grosshans said.
When she went outside and tried to hail a cab, she fell and cut her knee, Grosshans said.
Walters offered her a ride, Grosshans said. The woman initially refused, but agreed after Walters persisted that she come in his car, Grosshans said.
She was so drunk, Walters had to physically pick her up and put her in his car because she couldn’t stand up, Grosshans said.
The woman went in and out of consciousness during the ride and when she awoke, she found herself in front of a building that wasn’t hers.
She told Walters she didn’t live there, and he allegedly told her they’d be making a pit stop.
The woman wouldn’t go with Walters but he opened the car door, removed her seat belt, pulled her out, dragged her into his apartment and pulled her up the stairs to his bedroom loft, injuring her left ankle, Grosshans said.
Walters pulled off the woman’s clothes, dropped her on the bed and sexually assaulted her, Grosshans said.
The woman blacked out during parts of the attack but when she was aware of what was happening, she protested and scratched Walters, Grosshans said.
Walters threw the woman’s clothes at her after he was done and ordered her to put them back on, Grosshans said.
She put on her underwear and dress but not the bloodied tights, Grosshans said.
Walters grew inpatient and began to put her boots on for her, causing her more pain to the foot of the ankle she injured, Grosshans said.
Walters then asked the woman for her cellphone. When she gave it to him, he plugged his number in and called his number from her mobile, Grosshans said.
Walters then dragged the woman back to his car and her drove her home, Grosshans said. The woman was able to crawl up the stairs and into her apartment. When her roommate came home, she told her what happened from the parts she could recall.
The woman went to the hospital where a rape kit was collected. The gash to her knee required stitches and she had a sprained left ankle, Grosshans said.
After the incident, Walters allegedly texted the woman, explaining how she got her injuries.
He was arrested at his home on Monday.
Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. said the attack was “vicious and violent.”
Walters was charged with aggravated kidnapping and criminal sexual assault.
According to a police report, Walters raped another woman. But court records show, so far, he is only charged in one sexual assault case.
