U.S. Marshals have reason to believe a man they accuse of raping a wheelchair-bound victim in her New York home may be somewhere in the greater Sacramento County area.
Michael Hawkins, 29, is accused of breaking into the victim’s Schenectady home while her loved ones slept only feet away and assaulting her in June 2012.
The victim, who is also mentally challenged, reported the crime the next day and a warrant was issued for Hawkins’ arrest.
Hawkins remained undetected by law enforcement until the next year when he allegedly sexually assaulted another victim, U.S. Marshals said.
In November 2013, Hawkins allegedly sexually assaulted the wife of a friend, who had invited Hawkins to his Rotterdam, New York home for a family gathering. In this case, he was charged with first-degree rape, according to Marshals.
Authorities have reason to believe Hawkins may have fled from the area of his crimes, noting the man has personal ties to Sacramento, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida; however, his whereabouts remain unknown.
Nicknamed “Zombie Mike” by his friends for his poor hygiene, Hawkins is described by authorities “as someone who can hide anywhere to include wooded areas and survive off scraps.”
Due to his past employment with traveling carnival companies based in New Jersey and North Carolina, he could be working and traveling with similar companies in Ohio, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and states along the East Coast, Marshals report.
Hawkins is a 5 foot, 9 inches tall white man, weighing about 160 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. His unique physical characteristics include a scar on his face, a burn mark scar on his right arm, and a chest tattoo of the Grim Reaper.
According to friends, he is known to have a temper and abuse alcohol.
“The Schenectady and Rotterdam Police departments, along with the Marshals, have dedicated countless man-hours during this fugitive investigation,” said McNulty. “With the public’s help, we are confident Hawkins will be arrested.”
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading directly to Hawkins’ arrest.
Marshals urge anyone with information related to Hawkins to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office or the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or email usms.wanted@usdoj.gov.
