Conway police held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to give more details in the case against Matthew Elkins, 29, of Myrtle Beach.
Elkins is charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct 1st degree, one count of kidnapping, three counts of burglary first degree, and two counts of assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct first degree. The charges are in connection to three assaults earlier this year.
Read about those here.
"This man is a predator and a serial rapist," Conway Chief of Police Reggie Gosnell said.
Gosnell said Elkins would target and conduct surveillance on young women and then break into their homes.
He would not say how Elkins got inside.
In all three reported cases, police say the women awoke to find a man standing by them. In two of the cases, police say the man had a knife.
Gosnell said they got a break in the case when the victim of the third assault fought back and pulled out some of Elkins' hair.
During that attack, police say he dropped a cell phone and other personal items that they were able to trace. They say she also gave him the black eye seen in his mugshot.
Elkins was arrested August 25th.
Police say they were then able to match the hair to trace DNA evidence that is "traditionally gathered from sexual assault cases" and match it to Elkins.
Elkins is currently awaiting a bond hearing in October.
Gosnell says they believe there still may be other victims who have not come forward in this case.
He adds that if someone sees the coverage of the story and has yet to come forward, to contact Conway police at 843. 248.1790.
