He Allegedly Messaged Woman 'So I Raped You' and Then Fled Overseas for 3 Years. Now He's Back in the U.S.

Mar. 15, 2025

Shannon Keeler, Ian Cleary.Photo:AP Photo, U.S. Marshals via AP

AP Photo, U.S. Marshals via AP

A man accused of sexually assaulting aPennsylvania college studentin 2013 and years later sending her a Facebook message admitting to raping her has been extradited to the U.S. from France this week, authorities said.

Ian Cleary was sent to the U.S. on Thursday, Jan. 16, on a flight that left from the Charles de Gaulle Airport just outside Paris, France, officials confirmed to theAssociated PressandThe New York Times.

Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett filed a felony arrest warrant charging Cleary with sexual assault in 2021, weeks afterShannon Keelerspoke to theAssociated Pressfor a story about how difficult it is to prosecute sex crimes on college campuses.

Shannon Keeler.Chris Carlson/AP/Shutterstock

The affidavit states Keeler texted friends saying, “Help please” and “OMG please Help me,” before the alleged assault.

Keeler reported the alleged attack to police, underwent a rape kit test and found witnesses who saw Cleary that night, according to the affidavit. But nothing came of it after Keeler had spent years trying to convince authorities to arrest Cleary.

Ian Cleary.U.S. Marshals via AP

U.S. Marshals via AP

Years later, Keeler claims Cleary sent her chilling messages on Facebook admitting to the sexual assault. “So I raped you,” Cleary allegedly wrote, per the affidavit. Police later allegedly linked Cleary’s Facebook account with a matching cell phone number.

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PEOPLE couldn’t immediately identify a current attorney for Cleary.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com