Stoddard County man charged with rape

DEXTER, Mo. -- A local man is behind bars, held without bond, following a violent rape that authorities say happened on the north side of Dexter over the weekend.

Thirty-three-year-old Moses Grayson Jr., an Essex, Mo., native with a Dexter address, was arrested south of Essex Saturday following an investigation into the incident. He has been charged with forcible, armed criminal action and first-degree burglary.

Judge Joe Satterfield allowed Grayson no bond, stating on his warrant that the court finds him to be a "danger to the community".

Grayson is scheduled for arraignment Thursday morning before Satterfield.

According to a probable-cause statement written by Det. Corey Mills of the Dexter Police Department and filed in Stoddard County court Monday, Grayson allegedly parked his 1991 Chevrolet van along the 900 block of North Sassafras Street at 5:15 a.m. Saturday and walked to the rear of a residence inhabited by a 31-year-old Dexter woman. Using a small pocket knife, Grayson reportedly cut the screen from a window to gain entrance to the residence by climbing through, leaving muddy footprints inside.

Grayson allegedly found the victim asleep on her bed. The victim later told police that she awoke when she felt Grayson's hands fondling her. The victim told police when she opened her eyes, Grayson put a knife blade against her throat and told her that he would kill her if she moved. When the victim refused to follow two verbal commands from the accused, Grayson allegedly twice struck the victim in the back of the head with his hand. He then, according to the report on file, raped the victim despite her cries and continued pleas not to kill her.

Following the alleged rape, Grayson is said to have left the home on foot. The victim immediately left for the police station and saw a van believed to belong to Grayson parked in the 1000 block of North Mulberry Street.

After arriving at the Dexter police station, the victim was transported to Missouri Southern Healthcare for treatment. She later identified Grayson as the attacker.

Grayson and his van were located hours later in rural Essex. He was arrested and a small pocket knife was found between the front seats, suspected to be the weapon brandished during the alleged rape. A pair of Grayson's blue jeans, soiled in water, and a blue shirt described by a witness on Sassafras Street, were also seized from the residence at which Grayson was apprehended.

Grayson has denied sexually assaulting the victim or ever entering her residence.

Grayson did tell authorities that he had parked his vehicle on North Sassafras Street on Saturday morning in order to check on his own residence on North Mulberry Street. He told police he parked away from his residence because he suspected his neighbors would contact the police if he was seen parking near his home. Grayson reportedly separated from his wife at that residence recently and was staying in the Essex area.

He admitted to walking through the victim's yard and told police he saw a vehicle and hid behind the residence. Grayson said he heard music coming from inside the victim's house and reported that he met the victim while he was walking past the front of the residence. He said the two had a brief conversation on the front porch.

Pertinent address:

North Sassafras Street, Dexter, MO