Accused rapist hopes death of victim will help his case

Published: Updated:
(Broward Sheriff’s Office)

Fort Myers man arrested for sexually assaulting his maid hopes her death can strengthen his defense.

David Ralston, 71, is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting his victim, a maid he hired off of Craigslist, at his home on Gleneagle Court in Fort Myers back in 2016.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office detectives say they obtained surveillance video of the alleged assault from the home of Ralston, who is a professor in the Department of Management & International Business at the College of Business at Florida International University.

MORE: FIU professor arrested in Fort Myers sex assault case

A year after the arrest, Ralston’s accuser died in a motorcycle accident off of Summerlin Road and Boy Scout Drive. Now, the victims family say her death changes nothing in the case, and they plan to go to the trial next month to give her justice and peace.

With just two weeks until Ralston’s trial, a new request from his attorney, Shannon McFee, asks for, “A disclosure of his accused victim’s toxicology report.” According to Ralston’s lawyer, the toxicology can exonerate him.

McFee believes the toxicology report can prove the victim was a regular drug user, and that Ralston never gave her any drugs.

According to Lee County Deputies, home security video captured the victim falling on Ralston’s patio table and then shows him fondling her while she’s apparently heavily disoriented.

Ralston’s next court date will be March 6.

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