Formerly Missing American University Student Accused of Filming Students in Campus Bathroom
ByAn American University student who was reported missing over the summer is facing new voyeurism charges this week related to five separate incidents in which he allegedly recorded other students with a cellphone inside a library bathroom on campus.
The incidents took place between February and July, according to a complaint filed on Wednesday.
Kris Emmanuel Estrada, 19, was previously detained for a single incident of voyeurism in August when he allegedly filmed another student inside the men's bathroom at Bender Library on school grounds, according to WUSA9.
"Following the initial arrest, AU took administrative action as outlined in our code of conduct. This includes removal from campus," American University chief communications officer Matt Bennett said in a written statement to the outlet. "AU continues to cooperate with law enforcement as the legal process moves forward."
A male student reported on July 22 that he had seen a cellphone reaching through the wall of the bathroom while he was using it on the second floor of Bender Library. He identified the suspect's clothes in the adjacent stall.
With the help of security footage, the school ID system, the suspect's social media photos, and the IP address for Wi-Fi, university police identified Estrada as the possible suspect. They seized Estrada's phone for further investigation and found seven different videos of the victim using the toilet, WUSA9 reported.
Estrada allegedly filmed at least four other male victims between Feb. 22 and July 22. The lawsuit did not indicate whether the victims were also American University students.
Estrada pleaded not guilty to the new allegations after he appeared in D.C. Superior Court on Wednesday to be arraigned. He is set to return for a status hearing on Nov. 12.
This summer, Estrada's roommate and friends reported him missing, claiming they had not seen him since July 25. According to court documents filed following his arrest, police served a search warrant on his dorm room and mobile phone for evidence related to the Bender Library voyeurism incident on the same day.