Police: Virginia caregiver who raped, impregnated mentally incapacitated woman may have more victims

SPRINGFIELD, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - A 60-year-old Fairfax County man has been charged after officials say he raped and impregnated a mentally incapacitated woman being cared for at the rehabilitation center where he worked.

Fairfax County police say Bernard Betts-King worked as a behavioral specialist at the MVLE Community Center in Springfield, a rehabilitation center where he allegedly raped a patient at the facility in early 2018 who became pregnant with his child.

Captain Thea Pirnat with Fairfax County Police Major Crimes said Betts-King used his position of trust to target and rape a 33-year-old mentally incapacitated woman under his care.

"A family member reported it to us after they took the victim to the doctor and it was learned at that time that she was pregnant. She is a vulnerable adult, she is incapable of giving consent," said Captain Pirnat.

After the victim gave birth, investigators say they used DNA evidence to match the child with Betts-King.

"We were able to through our investigation look at who had access to this individual. We were eventually able to link it to the arrested subject," said Captain Pirnat.

Police say there's a second mentally disabled woman who worked with Betts-King at MVLE who also became pregnant. Investigators are now waiting on DNA evidence in that case.

"We are actually working a second case right now that we have learned there are commonalities. We believe its going to be linked to him and we are doing DNA processing in that particular case," said Pirnat.

"Same facility, same circumstances. She is a vulnerable adult she is not able to give consent to some cognitive impairment issues and that's what our concern is," she said.

Police tell FOX 5 Betts-King had no prior criminal record of this nature to fail any employment background checks.

And up until his arrest, officials say he was still working with vulnerable adults at another facility, Community Living Alternatives in Fairfax.

Investigators worry more victims could be out there.

"This is an extremely sad case. We are concerned that this is potentially a predator that was targeting vulnerable adults so we are asking any individuals that had family members potentially in his control for limited amounts of time," Pirnat said.

"If they notice behavioral changes, any medical changes with their family members to come forward so we can potentially investigate if theres a crime there," she said.

Betts-King appeared in court Tuesday morning and is currently being held without bond at the Adult Detention Center.

Officials say his preliminary hearing is set for March 26.

Detectives are asking for anyone with information to contact them at (703) 246-7800.

Statement from MVLE:

MVLE STATEMENT REGARDING INVESTIGATION OF FORMER STAFF MEMBER

There is currently a police investigation underway regarding the actions of a former staff member of MVLE. MVLE is taking this situation very seriously.

Upon notification by law enforcement, MVLE took immediate action. The staff member in question is no longer employed by the agency.

We are fully cooperating with the authorities, and because this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to give any further comments at this time.

Community Living Alternatives offered its own statement:

As a safe haven for individuals with intellectual disabilities, there is nothing more important to Community Living Alternatives than ensuring our residents are safe, secure and treated with the respect every person deserves. While the crimes alleged against the individual charged were not committed at our facility, we are proactively reviewing our safety procedures and have reached out to law enforcement to assist in their investigation.

- Susan Keenan, Executive Director for Community Living Alternatives

News Us Va