Mitchell Woman Arrested On Rape Charges

(BLOOMINGTON) – A Mitchell woman was arrested on a warrant Wednesday after she allegedly drugged and raped a 40-year-old man with mental disabilities that she was caring for twice on April 22 and April 23.

Bloomington Police arrested 47-year-old April Edwards on two counts of rape, and neglect of a dependent. Prosecutors say the victim was “so mentally disabled or deficient that consent to the sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct could not be given” and that he had been given a controlled substance.

According to police Edwards was a worker for an in-home caretaking agency. Police did not release the name of that company but did say Edwards has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal charges.

Bloomington Police officers were alerted to the possible rape on Saturday. The male victim told police Edwards had sexually assaulted him earlier in the week.

The man told detectives that Edwards gave him a small blue pill on April 22 that he normally didn’t take and then sexually assaulted him.

Police determined later that is was Roxicodone, an opioid-based drug. The male told police he didn’t want to take the pill, but Edwards said he would get in trouble if he didn’t.

After the incident, Edwards drove him to her home on Dale Street in Mitchell in the company vehicle.

He told police the two smoked marijuana.

The male was then picked up the next day by another caretaker.

The other caretaker told police they found a small blue pill in the spare bedroom of the man’s apartment which was used as an office area for caretakers.

According to a police report, the woman initially told investigators the man had raped her. She later said she was so high on prescription drugs that she didn’t know what had happened.

Police executed a search warrant on Edwards’ home and also took a DNA sample.

Edwards was then arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail and is being held on a $50,000 bond.