Police announced the arrest of Malachi Josephus Moody, 20, in a string of assaults that took place across three states in April of this year.
Moody allegedly stole a church van in Mississippi and engaged in several criminal acts, including the rape and sodomy of a stranded woman. The Alabama woman’s car had broken down on Interstate 59, and Moody offered her a ride. Unfortunately for the victim, her trust and belief that a rescue from a Christian church van meant safety turned out to be misplaced. Moody allegedly slapped her, sexually assaulted her, and stole her money and cellphone.
Moody then returned to his hometown of Atlanta and committed another robbery of a woman and engaged in a high-speed car chase with police before he was captured in Cobb County, Georgia.
“This suspect’s crime spree of targeting women has ended. Our detectives worked literally around the clock to get this case solved, and I am very proud of their determination and tenacity in getting justice for our victim here in Jefferson. I think it takes a real coward to pretend to be a Good Samaritan, and then attack a woman after she trusted he was there to help. This predator should be locked up for a long time, if not forever, and we will be a safer place for it,” said Jefferson County, Alabama, Sheriff Mike Hale.
Moody is currently in a Cobb County jail awaiting further charges and faces extradition in Mississippi and Alabama. Police are asking anyone who may have been victimized by Moody to contact their local law enforcement agency.
