A 54-year-old Uptown man is charged with sexually assaulting a transgender woman whom he met through an app. The man’s LinkedIn resume includes years of experience working at Chicago social service agencies.
Dean Kruel allegedly met the 24-year-old woman around 8:30 p.m. Saturday via Jack’d, prosecutors said. After drinking wine at Kruel’s apartment in the 5000 block of North Kenmore, the woman fell asleep fully-clothed on the bed while Kruel cooked food, according to prosecutors.
She allegedly woke up around 1:30 a.m. with no clothing on and with Kruel choking her in the midst of a sexual assault. Kruel went on to punch the woman repeatedly when she tried to stop the attack, prosecutors said.
Authorities said the victim was able to escape after biting Kruel in the face. She ran into the hallway and screamed for help, which was rendered by neighbors. Video allegedly captured images of the victim running from Kruel’s apartment.
Police responded to the scene, but the victim did not immediately report being sexually assaulted. Officers took a battery report and the victim was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital where she received stitches and treatment for cuts and bruises.
Later, after consulting with a relative, the victim filed a sexual assault report and returned to Weiss to have a “rape kit” collected.
Kruel was arrested shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday at his home, according to police. He is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery-strangulation, and aggravated battery-great bodily harm. Judge David Navarro on Tuesday set bail at $150,000. Kruel will be required to go on electronic monitoring if he is able to post bond.
On LinkedIn, Kruel claims to have years of experience working with marginalized persons at Chicago social service agencies. Among other roles, he claims to have worked as an “overnight youth specialist” at a shelter. In another role, Kruel “effect[ed] the policies and philosophies of…Harm Reduction and Sanctuary.”
The service agencies were not immediately available to confirm the content of Kruel’s profile.
