Gale Arraigned for 1989 Rapes, Armed Robbery

Stephen Paul Gale, accused of raping two women at a Framingham clothing store in 1989, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on charges including aggravated rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Gale, known as the 'Boston Strip Mall Rapist', allegedly committed the crimes at gunpoint, forcing the victims into the back of the store, and sexually assaulting them. After years of investigation and remaining a fugitive, Gale was identified through forensic genealogy and captured in Los Angeles in August following a dramatic police chase. The case, which remained unresolved for over three decades, was reopened with new leads powered by DNA evidence, leading to Gale's extradition to Massachusetts. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan emphasized the importance of persistence in justice, noting the victims' long wait for resolution. Gale had used multiple aliases and lived on a yacht, evading capture since the late 1980s.