GQEBERHA – A 56-year-old American fugitive wanted by INTERPOL for the alleged rape and sexual assault of his minor daughter has been arrested in Kabega Park, Gqeberha.

The suspect was apprehended at his home on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, following a coordinated tracking operation by South African law enforcement agencies and international authorities.

The charges stem from a 2017 investigation by the San Antonio Police Department in Texas, United States. According to official reports, the suspect allegedly raped his daughter and sent her explicit text messages over a period of time when the victim was 12 years old. Following the initial investigation, the suspect fled the United States and was later traced to the Eastern Cape.

The INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria located the suspect and executed a Section 5(1)(b) warrant of arrest upon receiving an official extradition request from the US government. The operation was supported locally by the Nelson Mandela Bay District Intervention Task Team, the Crime Combating Unit, and Mount Road Crime Intelligence.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 29 May 2026, where he will face a formal extradition application by the United States government.