A 19-year-old Minnesota man was arrested and charged Monday for allegedly raping and waterboarding his girlfriend in her college dorm room over several days, reports say.
Keanu Avery Labatte is facing three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of domestic assault by strangulation and threats of violence after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend of two months from Sept. 7-10 in her dorm room at St. Catherine’s University, according to court documents obtained by KSTP News.
The unnamed victim alleged that Labatte became “infuriated” Thursday evening after seeing social media posts, photographs, and texts, the outlet stated, citing the criminal complaint. After taking the victim’s phone, Labatte allegedly forced himself on her and began to strangle the victim, threatening to kill her and her family. Labatte also allegedly suggested he would hold a knife to her throat, boasting that he had done so to a former girlfriend, the complaint continued, according to KSTP.
St. Paul police say 19-year-old Keanu Labatte was enraged after discovering text messages, pictures and social media posts on the victim’s phone. https://t.co/4bbTIsqDVL
— KARE 11 (@kare11) September 13, 2023
On Saturday, Labatte allegedly tortured the victim further by placing her in a bathtub, covering her face with a washcloth and dumping water on her face, essentially waterboarding her. During that assault, the victim alleged to investigators that Labatte continued to threaten her with a knife, “looking for the right vein [on her arm] to cut deep enough so no one could save her,” court documents state, according to KSTP.
The victim managed to escape Sunday after convincing Labatte to let her go to the dining hall for food, assuring him that she would check in with him via Snapchat to show she wasn’t trying to get away, KSTP reported. Once out of the room, the victim made her way to campus security and reported the alleged assaults.
When police arrived, they reportedly found Labatte in the room, as well as a knife and a damp washcloth in the bathroom, the outlet stated, citing the complaint. Law enforcement authorities also noted the victim’s mattress had been moved to the floor, something the victim stated was done to prevent sound as Labatte allegedly assaulted her, the complaint continued.
Labatte pleaded the Fifth as he was read his Miranda rights and placed under arrest, KSTP reported. At his court appearance on Tuesday, a judge set Labatte’s bail at $80,000. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 9, the outlet stated. (RELATED: REPORT: College Athlete Flees US After Being Charged With Rape)
If convicted, Labatte could face up to 30 years for each count of criminal sexual conduct, along with maximum sentences of three years and five years for the domestic assault and threats of violence charges, the outlet stated.