Man Accused of Serial Rapes in Chicago Linked to Horrifying Attacks
A man suspected of being the serial rapist responsible for assaulting at least five women since 2022, primarily in the Logan Square area, was deemed a public safety threat and flight risk during a court hearing held on Monday afternoon.
Prosecutors unveiled disturbing details of the assaults during the hearing, stating that DNA evidence definitively connects the accused individual, 36-year-old Chakib Khodja, to the crimes. None of the victims were acquainted with Khodja, officials disclosed.
The first documented assault transpired around 3 a.m. on May 7, 2022, in the 2000 block of North Humboldt. A 36-year-old woman was ambushed by Khodja as she entered the foyer of her building. He covered her face with a black drawstring bag, choked her, and engaged in a physical altercation before fleeing the scene, leaving the bag behind. Khodja’s DNA was discovered on the bag, linking him to the crime.
Two months later, on July 15, 2022, a 21-year-old woman encountered difficulties securing a rideshare after leaving a bar in the Clybourn Corridor. She accepted a ride from two men she crossed paths with while walking, only to be assaulted by Khodja later in the back seat of the vehicle.
Khodja forced the woman to perform a sex act and sexually assaulted her before abandoning her a few blocks away. DNA evidence and surveillance footage tied Khodja to the incident, as he was observed driving a gold or beige Prius in the vicinity.
On January 18 of the current year, Khodja allegedly followed a 36-year-old woman from a convenience store and assaulted her at knifepoint, inflicting injuries during the ordeal. DNA testing and surveillance footage implicating Khodja’s involvement were pivotal in the investigation.
In a subsequent attack on February 4, Khodja reportedly sexually assaulted a woman at her apartment building, causing lacerations and utilizing a knife to intimidate her. Once again, DNA evidence linked Khodja to the crime.
Additional charges were filed against Khodja for an attack on a 21-year-old woman on January 22, 2025, in the 2800 block of North Central Park. The specifics of this incident were not disclosed.
Judge Susana Ortiz presided over the hearing and ordered Khodja’s detention. Khodja faces multiple charges, including aggravated criminal sexual assault, kidnapping, and attempted battery and home invasion offenses.
