DA Seeks Public's Help Locating Child Rapist Who Disappeared During Trial

Massachusetts authorities are asking for the public's help finding a man convicted of child rape last month in Middlesex Superior Court.

Stephen Corbin, 38, of Methuen, disappeared in the middle of his trial for raping a 14-year-old and 15-year-old girls on multiple occasions in 2017 at a home in Lexington and a motel in Bedford, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Tuesday.

“Corbin was convicted of sexually assaulting two females,” said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.,”Aa 15-year-old and a 14-year-old on multiple occasions, both of the girls were known to him.”

On several occasions, prosecutors said, he supplied drugs and alcohol to the two girls.

Corbin's trial spanned six days, and he disappeared after three days. He was eventually convicted on eight counts of aggravated rape of a child on April 14 despite his absence, but Ryan said investigators have been unable to locate him since so that he can be sentenced.

"During the trial, he fled," the district attorney said. "Investigators have not been able to locate him to date."

Since his arraignment back in 2017, Corbin had been free on $25,000 cash bail with a condition that he wear a GPS bracelet, stay away from the two victims and obey a curfew that allowed him only to go to and from work.

Ryan said he removed the GPS bracelet on North Street in Andover before disappearing.

“We know that where he was when he removed the bracelet was the era of North Street in Andover,” said Ryan. “We know him to have ties to Methuen, Lawrence, Haverhill and Hudson, New Hampshire.”

So far there has been no sign of Corbin and investigators aren’t sure if he’s hiding nearby or left the area completely.

“We have gone down all of the avenues to pursue where we thought he was tracking things and we have not been able to locate him,” said Ryan.

Ryan said it’s rare for a defendant to stop showing up in the middle of a trial.

Since his disappearance, investigators have been following up on a number of avenues. They were able to locate his truck near his former residence in Methuen, but Ryan said they have now reached the point where they require the public's help.

"There are obviously various options," she said. "Either he's concealed someplace or has left the jurisdiction completely."

Investigators don’t believe anyone is in any imminent danger.

Corbin is described as 5'11", about 160 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was living in Methuen and is known to have ties there, as well as in Lawrence, Haverhill and Hudson, New Hampshire. Anyone who sees him or has information about his whereabouts is asked not to approach him, but to call the Massachusetts State Police at 978-538-6180.

When located, Corbin could be facing up to life in prison.