Kenyan Man Imprisoned for 20 Years in North Carolina for Raping a 79-Year-Old Patient

A 49-year-old Kenyan man in North Carolina has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was found guilty of first-degree forcible rape.

Joseph Ngigi Kariuki, who previously worked at a Smithfield Assisted Living Center, was convicted on Thursday by a Johnston County Jury and sentenced to prison.

Kariuki, who was arrested in December 2019, was accused of raping a 79-year-old patient at Brookdale Senior Living on Berkshire Road where he worked as a caretaker.

Officers from the Smithfield police department were called to the facility at around 3 am on December 19th, 2019 to investigate the assault. A supervisor at the facility detained Kariuki as soon as the allegation was made until police arrived.

The victim was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when she was sexually assaulted but she passed away before the trial took place.

Superior Court Judge Clair Hill sentenced the defendant to serve a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of 29 years in state prison.

“The Johnston County District Attorney’s Office is pleased with the verdict and the sentence imposed. We hope that this helps restore some measure of dignity to this incredible lady whose life was full of such tremendous love. Our office also hopes the victim’s family members find a measure of justice in this outcome,” said Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Slavin.

“We are now confident that this predator will never again be able to harm a member of our community.”

Police charged Kariuki, a resident of Clayton, with second-degree forcible rape and was held in the Johnston County jail under a $100,000 bond.