Police: Men rape college student in Nashville, steal credit card to buy Waffle House
By Daniel Smithson
Click here for updates on this story
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WSMV) — A man is in custody after police say he and another man raped a Western Kentucky University student after a night out at Nashville bars and later used her debit card to buy a late-night Waffle House meal.
Joseph Farmer, 36, of Chattanooga, is charged with aggravated rape, kidnapping, credit card fraud, among other drug charges. Trevor Casteel, 27, also of Chattanooga, has had warrants issued, charging him with aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, five counts of credit card fraud and theft. Casteel is also wanted on three unrelated warrants. As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, he remained at large.
On May 5, investigators responded to MNPD’s Madison precinct to speak with a victim, who reported she had been raped on May 4. She told police she was out with a friend at Honky Tonk Central on Broadway in downtown Nashville when her memory became foggy. She believes she was drugged, according to the report.
The woman told police her next memory was being in a Jeep Grand Cherokee with two males who she did not recognize. For the next couple of hours, she said she was repeatedly raped, despite telling the suspects, “no,” “stop” and “get off.” She also recalled going to a bank and the suspects withdrawing money from her bank account.
Investigators would later use bank surveillance footage to help identify the suspects, according to the report. An officer recognized one of the suspects and found a photo with him and Farmer on Facebook. Farmer was identified as one of the men seen on surveillance footage inside the Jeep with the victim, police said.
After the victim was dropped off, the victim’s debit card was used several times, including a $83.22 charge at a Shell gas station and $12 at Waffle House.
On Friday night, Entertainment District Unit officers observed a narcotics transaction on 4th Avenue South, according to a media release. Both suspects fled from officers. Farmer, who was quickly apprehended, had multiple baggies of drugs and cash on him at the time of his arrest, according to police.
When interviewed by police, Farmer stated he had consensual sex with the woman. He said he went to the Shell and Waffle House after dropping the victim off but denied using her card to pay.
Farmer remains in custody. He’s not eligible for release at this time due to warrants in other counties. The suspects’ mugshots are being withheld pending a photo lineup, police said.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
