Peach County grand jury indicts accused serial rapist

FORT VALLEY -- A Peach County grand jury handed up a 28-count indictment Friday against a man accused of a string of sexual assaults and home invasions near Fort Valley State University earlier this year.

Darrell Aundray Ross, 29, of Fort Valley, previously denied all the allegations against him through his attorney.

Law enforcement authorities have said they are confident Ross is the alleged serial rapist that put the Fort Valley community on edge for weeks in April. He was also tied to a January aggravated sexual battery during a task force investigation into the April incidents.

“Even subsequent to indictment, there’s still investigation going on,” said Cindy Adams, an assistant district attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit, which includes Peach County. “They continue to process evidence and go through property and things of that nature.”

Ross was indicted on the following charges:

Aggravated sexual battery, home invasion, false imprisonment, armed robbery (cell phone) and theft by taking (laptop) in a Jan. 31 attack on St. Luke’s Lane;

Rape, home invasion, false imprisonment and armed robbery (cell phone) involving one victim; also a theft by taking (laptop belonging victim’s roommate); April 2; Mollette Street;

Rape, home invasion, and false imprisonment; April 5; Vandaway Street;

Home invasion, aggravated assault and theft by taking (cellphone, wallet and thumb drive); April 8; Rayfield Wright Street;

Attempted rape; home invasion, kidnapping and aggravated assault, theft by taking (cell phone); April 26, also an earlier burglary at the same residence between April 19 and April 25; Julius Simmons Avenue;

Rape, home invasion, false imprisonment and armed robbery (cell phone); April 28; Spencer Street; and

Criminal trespass and possession of burglary tools from Ross’ arrest; May 16; Persons Street.

Ross was arrested after he was seen in the woods with a flashlight behind a Fort Valley apartment complex by a woman and her boyfriend. The boyfriend held Ross at the scene until police arrived.

William Phillips, Ross’ public defense attorney, previously said that Ross “says he didn’t assault anybody, he didn’t rape anybody or burglarize any homes.”

Ross has two prior burglary convictions. He is being held at the Peach County jail without bond.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@BecPurser.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Peach County grand jury indicts accused serial rapist ."