Police: Woman raped after answering Craigslist ad

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- An 18-year-old woman, who police say was lured and raped by a man who put a phony job posting on Craigslist, is speaking out about her terrifying ordeal.

"I thought he was going to kill me. I thought I was never coming home," the woman said.

The victim, who we are not identifying, says she answered an ad on Craigslist and was told by the suspect, 42-year-old Kevin Cornish, that the job was for a home health aide.

Cornish, she says, seemed legitimate and even drove the young woman to and from her interview in his gray sedan.

The interview took place inside a bedroom office in the suspect's Drexel Hill apartment.

The victim says Cornish dropped her off at home. She says he then called to tell her she got the job, that an overnight aide was needed and that she would get paid immediately.

When Cornish brought her back to his apartment, the young woman says he told her to sign paperwork. But it was for a sex-for-hire company.

"I tried to get up from the chair, and he pushed me back into the chair. And he said, 'If you don't sign these papers, you're not going nowhere,'" the victim told Action News.

The woman says Cornish raped her. She swore to him that she wouldn't say anything if he drove her home.

However, when she saw a familiar sign on I-95 she seized her chance.

"I just put my bags in my hand, and I just got out of the car and started running as fast as I could," she said.

"This guy is a true predator," said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Police arrested Cornish over the weekend and found 50 other signed applications after searching his apartment.

Investigators fear that there are more victims out there.

"They can come forward, because if they were afraid of him they don't have to be afraid of him," said Chitwood. "He's in jail now. We have a strong case against him. If there are other victims, they have to come forward."

Cornish is being held on $250,000 bail. He is charged with several offenses, including rape and human trafficking.

Anyone with information about this case, and any other possible victims, are urged to contact Upper Darby Police at 610-734-3439.