Gabriel Omogbo: Maryland Preacher Arrested For Raping Escorts In Washington, D.C., Hotels

Gabriel Omogbo, a Maryland preacher, is accused of beating, raping, and robbing escorts in Washington, D.C., hotels. Omogbo, of Hyattsville, has been arrested on attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and armed robbery charges.

Maryland law enforcement investigators believe that Gabriel Omogbo, 33, used the Backpage.com website to find escorts and schedule meetings with them at Washington, D.C., hotels, the Daily Mail reports. The website is similar to Craigslist and allows users to post ads in a host of categories. The Backpage.com “adults” section categories include escorts, body rubs, strips clubs and strippers, TS, male escorts, phone and websites, and adult jobs.

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According to local news media outlet WJLA, the first two attacks allegedly at the hands of the Maryland preacher occurred at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Rockville. During both visits to the Washington, D.C., area hotel, Gabriel Omogbo raped the female escorts and stole from them. He also allegedly connected with the women online before scheduling the hotel meeting.

Preacher Omogbo is accused of initiating a third attack against a paid escort at the Radisson Hotel in Rockville. Gabriel has been accused of threatening the escort with a knife.

After ordering the woman to remove all of her clothing, he allegedly said, “You are going to die today.”

According to the escort, Omogbo then cut her arms, legs, and hands, and beat her, and he stole her cell phone, iPad, and $300. The woman told police investigators that before he left the room, he offered her a cup of cold water. After he left, the woman immediately called 911 to report the attack.

Police investigators maintain that Omogbo met a paid escort on the third-floor hotel room around midnight and engaged in consensual sex. After having sex, the preacher allegedly went to the bathroom and returned brandishing a knife and ordered the woman to strip.

Police detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant after they reportedly traced Omogbo’s activity at the hotel via surveillance cameras located in common areas. DNA evidence was also collected from each of the rooms where the beatings and rapes of the escorts reportedly occurred.

Washington D.C. Preacher, Gabriel Omogbo, Accused of Robbing, Beating, and Raping Prostitutes he Found Online https://t.co/DvoyxJSn30

— BCNN1 (@bcnn1) November 30, 2015

The hotel surveillance camera footage also reportedly shows a man matching Gabriel Omogbo’s description wearing blue jeans and brown loafers entering and leaving the hotels at the time of the attacks.

In addition to serving as the pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ in Riverdale, Gabriel also works as a security guard for the Lanham-based company Security Protective Services, according to his Facebook page. Before being arrested, Omogbo, 33, was living at home with his parents along the 2600 block of Kirkwood Place in Hyattsville. The Maryland preacher was a student at Bowie State University.

The following is an excerpt from the Celestial Church of Christ website describing its origins and mission.

“Celestial Church of Christ is a spiritual, world-wide, united, indivisible Holy Church which came into the world from heaven by DIVINE ORDER on the 29th of September 1947 in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin through the founder of the Church, the Reverend, Pastor, Prophet, Founder Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa (1909 – 1985). The Church is well known with Parishes, Dioceses all over the world with its International Headquarters in Nigeria.”

“I can’t but give glory to God for using me for his glory… Lord u [sic] are all to be praised,” the preacher reportedly wrote on his Facebook page in June.

The Maryland preacher is currently being held at the Montgomery County Correction Facility without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 8. If convicted on the rape, robbery, and assault charges, Omogbo could spend the rest of his life in prison.

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