Notorious Rapist Severely Beaten

A man known as Southern California’s “pillowcase rapist” two decades ago was in critical condition Thursday, the victim of a beating after allegedly trying to rape another woman.

Reginald Muldrew, 47, was severely beaten by the woman’s neighbors last week after he tried to break into her home, a television station reported.

Muldrew, who moved to Gary after his release from prison in California, has been hospitalized since Aug. 5, when he was so badly beaten that police used fingerprints to identify him, the station said.

He remained in critical condition Thursday, Methodist Hospital nursing supervisor Leigh Sparks told The Associated Press.

Muldrew was charged with attempted rape, home invasion and robbery.

Muldrew, who put a pillowcase over his victims’ heads to conceal his own identity, was linked to as many as 200 sex crimes in the Los Angeles area from 1976 through 1978, sometimes several in one night.