LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Three women say they were sexually assaulted by the same man, Matthew Leonard Werner. And police say there have been other accusers as well. It’s a story we’ve been covering – and the LAPD has been investigating – for a long time.<\/p>\n
“Mr. Werner has been on the LAPD’s radar for a number of years for a series of sexual assaults,” said LAPD Detective Brent Hopkins.<\/p>\n
Hopkins said Werner is suspected of preying on women using fake identities on dating apps.<\/p>\n
“He would claim to be someone else, and then when they showed up, he didn’t quite match his profile on the dating site,” Hopkins said.<\/p>\n
Shira Scott Astrof recalled connecting with Werner on a dating app.<\/p>\n
I was just frozen, like frozen. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t fight back. I couldn\u2019t do anything<\/p>\n
Shira Scott Astrof, rape survivor<\/p>\n
“I went on a dating app for the first time, and I thought I was messaging with an international soccer player named Sebastian Larsson,” Astrof said.<\/p>\n
“I remember when I saw him, I was like, oh, OK, it must be off season, he’s a little out of shape,” she said.<\/p>\n
“He would spin these fantastic, charming tales of his great wealth, his great charm, his wonderful lifestyle,” Hopkins said. “And then he would sexually assault them forcefully.”<\/p>\n
Astrof said at one point during the date, she went to the bathroom.<\/p>\n
“I came out, and then it was like so violent. He put on his sneakers, walked out. It was like nothing had happened,” Astrof said.<\/p>\n
With a dislocated shoulder and many other injuries, she was taken to the hospital, where she endured a battery of tests in addition to dealing with the mental trauma of what just happened.<\/p>\n
“Then the detectives came. They said, ‘We know who it is, but we need you to pick his mugshot out.’\u00a0And they showed me a bunch, and I immediately picked him out. And then they said, ‘Yeah, we know who that is,'” Astrof recalled.<\/p>\n
And that was the moment that she realized the man who attacked her was not Sebastian Larsson, the famous soccer player.<\/p>\n
“Like it’s a whole other level of violation,” she said.<\/p>\n
At first, it appeared detectives were putting together a strong case against Werner, even revealing details to the media. Detectives claim to already have multiple accusers, including Astrof. In fact, Astrof says she was told she was the third the week she was attacked. At the time, she felt empowered knowing there were other accusers willing to testify against him, but to her dismay, it all began to unravel.<\/p>\n
“And one by one, they all dropped out. And I was told that they got scared,” Astrof said.<\/p>\n
Astrof would soon be the only one left, but she wasn’t backing down. In fact, Werner would ultimately be arrested and held for her case.<\/p>\n
But there would be no trial. Instead, Astrof’s prosecutor, Sandra Jimenez, negotiated a plea deal: No contest for assault and sexual battery. Our cameras were there as the deal was announced, and Werner was sentenced to four years, but a suspended sentence, which meant no prison, just probation<\/a>. Werner was free to go.<\/p>\n Outside, Astrof knew the only way to get real justice now was for other survivors to come out.<\/p>\n