Travis Hilsdale was a Ice cream vendor who raped two women in front of their children
History
Hilsdale used his occupation as Ice cream Vendor to scope out his victims.
His first victim was Crystal new nurse a regular at his truck. He subsequently stocked her to her home and broke in after feigning needing to install something. He would then rape Crystal in front of her child and force her to pretend to enjoy the encounter otherwise he would’ve killed her child and she complied.
SVU investigated the case and went to Hilsdale who feigned ignorance and pointed out two men who harassed her earlier. He states he had not seen her after the event and went with them to lineup. Because Crystal had not seen his face without his mask, she could not properly identify him and because she had multiple encounters in her room there was reasonable doubt and her story.
Realizing he got in the way with the first crime, Hilsdale struck again and attacked another regular from the park. He broke into her house and raped her in front of her 18 month old child. He also threatened to kill the child if she cried and when she slipped away to get her gun, he followed her and struck her with it. He finished raping her and took the gun with him to use in other attacks. Unfortunately for him the victim turned out to be the daughter of a cop and a award was out for his capture.
Eventually SVU found the connection between Nunez and his second victim they were both regulars at the ice cream truck. While continuing his job and looking at a new potential victim, he was accosted by SVU who more questions. He seemingly agreed to come in but immediately dashed out of the truck with a gun in hand. Hilsdale entered a standoff with Detectives Rollins and Tutuola. However he was subsequently tackled by detective Velasco who almost strangled him for what he did to the victims. He was taken to the precinct and denied any accusations but the detectives tell his lawyer that he was previously in for a lineup. However he was confident that they could not charge him.
Hilsdale was put in lockup for the night to await arraignment. While in holding, he was subsequently attacked by the other inmates who heard what he did and proceeded to savagely beat him for his acts, leaving him with a bruise eye and broken arm.
Known Victims
- Crystal Nunez