St. Paul teen accused of assaulting, waterboarding, and holding girlfriend captive in dorm room
09/14/2023 2:01 pm PDT
ST. PAUL, Minn. (TCD) -- A 19-year-old man is facing several charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted, tortured, and kept his girlfriend against her will in her dorm room for several days.
According to the criminal complaint cited by Minnesota Public Radio, on Thursday, Sept. 7, Keanu Labatte reportedly went to his girlfriend’s dorm room at St. Catherine University and saw photos on her phone that "infuriated" him. Labatte allegedly took the phone and proceeded to punch, choke, rape, and threaten her.
The court documents allege when Labatte choked the victim, she was "unable to breathe, felt lightheaded, and saw stars while being strangled; she thought she was going to die." Labatte allegedly told her he would kill her family, too.
At another point, Labatte allegedly waterboarded his girlfriend by making her go into the bathtub, covering her face with a washcloth, and pouring water on her. Then, he reportedly picked up a knife and "held her arm and said he was looking for the right vein to cut deep enough so no one could save her."
According to Minnesota Public Radio, Labatte moved the victim’s mattress to the floor to "prevent others from hearing the bed squeaking during the sexual assaults."
The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports on Sunday, Sept. 10, she managed to convince Labatte to let her leave her room and go to the dining hall. Labatte reportedly made her take pictures of the dining hall to prove she was there. She was ultimately able to alert the school’s public safety officials, who then contacted the St. Paul Police Department.
The victim reportedly had bruises and other marks on her neck. While at the hospital, the victim told a nurse during a sexual assault exam that Labatte punched her in the stomach, throat, and face.
When police searched the victim’s room, they reportedly found a knife and a wet washcloth.
Labatte was arrested on charges of three counts of first-degree sexual conduct, one count of domestic assault by strangulation, and one count of threats of violence. He is being held at the Ramsey County Jail with bail set at $80,000.
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