Increased reward of $30,000 offered in case of brutal assault of elderly man

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's been more than five months since an 84-year-old man was brutally beaten and robbed inside his home in Midtown. He is still in the hospital and the suspect or suspects who did it are still at large.

Crime Stoppers has upped the reward for information leading to an arrest to $30,000. On Tuesday, friends, family and investigators came forward to ask for any new information in the beating and robbery that has that elderly Houston man still fighting for his life.

The beating and robbery happened in the 3400 block of Roseland Street in Houston almost six months ago, on the evening of November 15, 2011.

"I can't tell you the emotional effect it's had not only on his family, but his friends," said friend William B. Boyd.

The victim, Roland Suiter, who goes by "Darby," is still in the hospital, fighting for his life.

"We're really angry about this. Darby Suiter did not deserve it," said Boyd.

Friends, family and police came together at a Crime Stoppers news conference to ask for information. Investigators believe someone who knew Suiter committed the crime.

"Investigators believe that the incident was a result of a person or persons knowing that Mr. Darby kept a large amount of cash in his residence," said HPD Sgt. Darrell Defee.

Suiter, who served in the US Navy as a musician in the Fleet City Orchestra, made his mark on Houston as a lawyer and as a real estate investor so successful that a street in Pasadena is named after him.

"Suiter Way is named after Darby Suiter because he developed the properties there," Boyd said.

But despite Suiter's high profile, his attacker has yet to be found and Suiter's family and friends are struggling.

"His relatives were constantly coming down here from Ohio to be with him, to care for him. His friend who have full time jobs are taking care of him," said Boyd.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $30,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Crime Tracker »

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Suspect arrested in brutal sex assault near METRO bus stop

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A suspect accused of targeting a woman at a METRO bus stop and raping her has been arrested.

No one answered the door at Roberto Ramirez's east Harris County apartment. That's because police say the 21-year-old accused rapist was hiding out at a home in Abilene with his girlfriend. Police there arrested him Tuesday afternoon on a Crime Stoppers tip.

Houston investigators used DNA to tie Ramirez to the February 22 rape of a 31-year-old woman near a METRO bus stop. Investigators say Ramirez first started harassing the victim near a bus stop on Wayside and Lawndale. They say he then followed the victim off the bus near the 5600 block of Old Spanish Trail and hit her with a beer bottle before raping her in a nearby field on Produce Row.

"For a pretty young guy, he's pretty dangerous and that's what our concern was from the get go, and to work as fast as we can to get him off the streets," said Pedro Moreno with the Houston Police Department.

Since the beginning of the year, four women have been attacked near METRO bus stops at different locations across Houston. In light of Tuesday's arrest, investigators still don't believe they're connected.

As those investigations continue, METRO is stepping up security in hopes of reassuring nervous passengers including more patrols using uniformed and plain clothes officers.

"In addition to that, we included or incorporated the city's help to help us to take down some of the overrun weeds and other debris that has allowed for some of these types of criminal activity to take place along our transit system," said METRO Police Chief Victor Rodriguez.

According to court documents, the victim's rape kit yielded a DNA profile that matched that of Ramirez in a database from an unsolved 2008 rape case. He's expected to be charged in that case as well.

Ramirez, 21, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of an adult.

He was released from prison in November 2011, out on parole for a robbery conviction. He also has prior convictions for drug possession, theft and criminal trespass. Authorities say Ramirez is a member of the gang '59 PIRU.'

Ramirez is currently being held in the Taylor County Jail. He's expected to be returned to Houston later Tuesday. Bond has been set at $50,000.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on this story.

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Man wanted in brutal murder surrenders to HCSO

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 22-year-old man accused of brutally murdering a woman in her southwest Houston apartment turned himself in to authorities Sunday.

Stephen Noah Dawkins has been charged with capital murder in the death of Altovise M. Mahone, 27.

Mahone's family discovered her body in her apartment around noon Saturday. They told police they had not heard from her in several days. Investigators determined she was killed late Thursday evening.

Authorities believe Dawkins fled in Mahoney's vehicle. It is also believed he stole other items from the apartment.

Dawkins surrendered to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, officials said. It was unclear if any of the stolen property was recovered.

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