BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (May 27, 2014) — An international manhunt has ended with a Big Rapids High School senior in federal custody in Guam, and another student in custody here in West Michigan.
This all comes after the pair allegedly sexually assaulted three teenage girls over the holiday weekend.
Sources tell FOX17 that both suspects were taken into custody on Tuesday, after a teenage girl told law enforcement she had been sexually assaulted during a gathering at one of the suspect’s Big Rapids house.
Sources close to the investigation tell FOX 17 that 18-year-old Patrick Kettner is the suspect taken into federal custody in the U.S. territory of Guam on Tuesday.
It’s believed that Kettner’s father works for the US Coast Guard there, and the high school senior planned to use his family overseas to hide from authorities.
Michigan State Police, The Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office and the US Marshall’s office executed a felony arrest warrant for Kettner early Tuesday morning, putting several neighbors on edge.
“We look out the front window and we see a cop at the end of the driveway with his gun, it seemed to be drawn, and then we looked out the other side window which faces their house and there was a big black bus, a state cop, and I believe an ambulance was out there,” said one of Kettner’s neighbors.
A source also tells Fox17 that 19-year-old Doug Robinson, also a senior at Big Rapids High School, was arrested on Tuesday for criminal sexual assault in connection to the case.
Before he was taken into custody, a text alert was sent to students at Ferris State University on Tuesday afternoon while law enforcement attempted to locate Robinson.
Neighbors said that there were people at the house on Saturday, which is a common occurrence.
“I do remember a couple more people than usual, but there usually is numerous cars in and out all day long. To me, I thought they were college kids because I’ve never seen a parent most of the time,” said the neighbor.
Several local and federal agencies worked together to apprehend both of the suspects.
The Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office said that they will release more details once the suspects are arraigned.
Currently, Kettner is awaiting extradition to the United States.
Robinson is being held without bail in Mecosta County.
