Scott Donavan indicted for August rape, assault

By Aubrey Gibavic - October 26, 2006

A Dukes County Grand Jury, convened Monday, handed up indictments charging accused rapist Scott Donavan with aggravated rape, home invasion, and aggravated assault in a dwelling, in connection with an August attack on a West Tisbury woman. Mr. Donavan will be arraigned in Superior Court today at 12:30 pm, according to court officials.

According to reports at the time, the victim was at home asleep on Aug. 28, when Mr. Donavan broke into her home at some time before 5 am. Although she was acquainted with Mr. Donavan, police believe there was no existing relationship.

The victim awakened to a man wearing a ski type mask and choking her, according to court documents. During a struggle, the mask came off. She was able to turn a light on and recognize her attacker as Mr. Donavan.

The victim ran outside where the struggle continued. The attacker hit her in the head and face with a rock and forced her back into the house. The victim was tied up and sexually assaulted. She was then made to go downstairs. The victim asked her attacker to allow her to seek medical attention, but according to the police report, he said, "not till I come to grips with this" and threatened to commit suicide.

The attacker took his victim back upstairs and tied her feet and hands to prevent her escape. He then left the house in the victim's vehicle. The woman was able to free herself and call police.

West Tisbury and state police were dispatched to the house at 4:55 am. The woman was transported to Martha's Vineyard Hospital by the Tri-Town ambulance service.

An Island-wide police bulletin was issued that day asking police to look for Mr. Donavan, described as a white male, five feet, nine inches, 125 pounds, clean-shaven with short brown hair, and his pickup truck and the victim's vehicle. According to a West Tisbury police press release, he was to be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Later on the morning of the attack, state and Tisbury police went to Mr. Donavan's residence, a rented room at 118 William Street, but he was not there. Oak Bluffs police located the victim's vehicle at 7 am but there was no sign of Mr. Donavan. About 9:30 am his pickup truck was found in West Tisbury.

Search warrants were secured and state police searched his residence and the vehicles. A close watch was kept at boat terminals and the airport. At the same time a State Police crime team arrived from the mainland to process the victim's home and to examine the vehicles for evidence.

Police found Mr. Donavan in Oak Bluffs late on Aug. 28 in a bedroom in a semiconscious state and in need of medical attention. State Police troopers arrested Mr. Donavan and transported him to Martha's Vineyard Hospital under police guard. At approximately midnight on the night of the attack, West Tisbury Police transported him to the Dukes County Jail.

He was arraigned in Edgartown District Court on Aug. 29, and held on $1 million bail, the highest amount ever set by Clerk Magistrate Liza Williamson.

Mr. Donavan was held in the Dukes County jail awaiting Monday's presentation to the Grand Jury. He remains in jail.