“Rape Dungeon on Wheels” Predator Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison After Plea Deal
LOS ANGELES, CA — A man accused of turning a modified van into a mobile torture chamber used to sexually assault women and children has been sentenced to 25 years and eight months in prison after striking a plea deal with prosecutors. The disturbing case has stunned investigators and renewed calls for deeper protections against serial sex offenders in California.
Eduardo Sarabia, arrested in 2024 while allegedly caught in the act of raping a woman in a secluded stretch of the Angeles National Forest, pleaded no contest Friday to four separate sexual assaults — including attacks on two adult women and two minors.
A Van Outfitted for Horror
According to court records and law enforcement sources, Sarabia’s van was outfitted with restraints, soundproofing, blackout coverings, and tools designed to imprison and violate his victims. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department described it bluntly as a “rape dungeon on wheels” — a term that quickly caught national attention.
“He built that vehicle to rape,” said one source familiar with the investigation. “It was intentionally, disgustingly outfitted for that purpose.”
Sarabia’s attacks on two women occurred in May 2024, just days apart. On May 12, he reportedly picked up a woman near a public transportation station, drove her deep into a remote area off Highway 39, and raped her. Less than 24 hours later, deputies say Sarabia returned to the same remote stretch of road with another woman. This time, he was caught in the act, and law enforcement made an immediate arrest.
More Victims Come Forward
Following media coverage of his arrest, two additional victims came forward — both alleging prior sexual abuse at Sarabia’s hands. One of them, prosecutors confirmed, is his own niece, who says she was assaulted between 2010 and 2012, when she was a child. Another minor victim alleged abuse between 2021 and 2022.
Sarabia has been held without bail since his arrest. On Friday, he entered a no contest plea to all four assaults. The court handed down the 25-year, 8-month sentence immediately, closing the criminal case but leaving a long shadow over the lives he impacted.
A Pattern Hidden in Plain Sight
What makes this case more alarming is how long Sarabia operated undetected. Law enforcement sources believe he targeted vulnerable women — often near train stations or other public spaces — before isolating them in remote wooded areas. One of the attacks took place in the San Gabriel Mountains, far from cell service or passerby visibility.
The case also raises questions about law enforcement oversight and whether Sarabia could have been caught earlier, especially given that his van was conspicuously altered in ways that might have drawn suspicion.
Resources for Survivors
As the victims begin to rebuild their lives, advocates are urging anyone who may have been harmed by Sarabia — or others like him — to come forward. Support is available through the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), which offers a 24/7 confidential hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
This case serves as a brutal reminder of the predators who operate in the margins — and the urgency of staying alert, reporting suspicious behavior, and strengthening protections for women and children in vulnerable communities.
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