Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 12 Years for Robbery and Rape on Far South Side
A registered sex offender, Zebedee Thomas, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for robbing and raping a woman at gunpoint on the Far South Side. According to state law, Thomas must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.
The incident took place on August 4, 2023, around 2:45 p.m. in the 10800 block of South Edbrooke Avenue. The victim and a witness were seated inside a car when Thomas approached them, knocked on the window with a gun, and demanded property from the woman. Fearing for her life, she surrendered her phone to Thomas.
Thomas then forced the woman to perform a sex act while threatening her with the gun. He then proceeded to rape her in the back seat of the car while holding the weapon against her back.
Following the assault, the victim immediately reported the incident to the Chicago police and sought medical treatment at a hospital. DNA evidence collected during the examination matched Thomas, whose genetic profile was already on file in a law enforcement database.
The case was presided over by Judge Thomas Byrne.
Officials noted that the recent rape and robbery allegations against Thomas were reminiscent of a past incident where he sexually assaulted a seven-year-old neighbor as a juvenile. In that case, Thomas coerced the child into performing a sex act under threat of a paintball gun.
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CWBChicago was founded in 2013 by residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who aimed to provide accurate public safety reporting. Our coverage has since expanded to include various North Side areas while maintaining our commitment to detailed and contextual reporting.
