On July 7, undercover officers in the city’s South of Market neighborhood observed suspicious behavior from a driver operating what appeared to be a ride-hailing vehicle.
Officers stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Vilchez Lazo and took a DNA sample for analysis and comparison, authorities said.
Investigators confirmed that Vilchez Lazo’s DNA matched the forensic evidence from the four alleged sexual assaults and took him into custody on suspicion of rape. Police dubbed him the “Rideshare Rapist.”
“These women were remarkable in calling upon a level of bravery that no person should ever have to experience,” Assistant District Attorney Michelle Brass said. “They showed grace, courage, and strength during this excruciatingly long process. I hope these verdicts and this sentence provide them with some sense of closure and peace.”