By Michael P. Buffer | [email protected] | The Citizens' Voice
State police are searching for a Sweet Valley man who is considered armed and dangerous and is facing charges he raped a 17-year-old.
Members of Troop P Wilkes-Barre and Shickshinny are actively searching for Ryan E. McDermott, 40, of 172 Bronson Road. Numerous explosive devices and firearms belonging to McDermott were recovered Saturday, and he has made numerous threatening statements toward law enforcement, police said.
McDermott is a white male, 5'9", with blue eyes, red hair and a tattoo on his forearm. McDermott gave alcohol and marijuana to a teen whom he then restrained and repeatedly raped, impregnating her while she was visiting the area over a period of months, according to police.
He is also accused of recording himself raping the 17-year-old at area hotel rooms and then sending the images to the teen to "remind her" that he was her man.
According to a criminal complaint, McDermott took the teen to area hotels, including the Knights Inn in Pittston Twp., the Red Roof Inn in Plains Twp. and the Motel 6 in Wilkes-Barre Twp. McDermott plied the teen with alcohol and marijuana "to render her unconscious" and then used a metal chain and collar to restrain her while he raped her, according to police.
The teen provided police with a series of pictures and a video McDermott sent her depicting him raping her while she is "heavily intoxicated and semi-conscious," police said.
According to the charges, McDermott sent the teen the images to "remind her" who her man is. Investigators said they confirmed McDermott was the man in the video based on a tattoo visible on his right forearm.
After the sexual assaults, the teen learned she was pregnant and had an abortion at around five or six weeks of gestation, according to the complaint. McDermott, upon learning of the pregnancy, told the girl he had impregnated her deliberately, police said.
Pittston Twp. police charged McDermott with forcible rape, rape of an impaired person, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, unlawful restraint, recording child sex acts, possessing and disseminating images depicting child sexual abuse, corruption of a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Troop P Wilkes-Barre at 570-822-5400.