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Modesto residents remember the fear after East Area Rapist attacked

It was 1978, and the Boykin's had lived in their home eight years. Suddenly, the East Area Rapist had shattered their quiet, well-manicured, tree lined neighborhood with a horrific crime.

Ann and Everett Boykin never forgot what happened decades ago just yards from their home.

"And all at once we find out that we have the East Side Area Rapist raping a neighbor just across the street," said Ann Boykin.

It was 1978, and the Boykin's had lived in their home eight years.

Suddenly, the East Area Rapist had shattered their quiet, well-manicured, tree lined neighborhood with a horrific crime.

"Everybody was real concerned about if he would come back or anything," said Everett Boykin. "It was just the noise that was happening across the street from the cars coming and going and that's how we knew something had happened.”

From that point on, the Boykin's said it changed their lives forever. They beefed-up their home security. Wooden dowels were put in place to stop windows from being forced open. Deadbolts were added to doors.

A neighborhood watch was started.

"Yeah, from then on we kept our doors locked," said Ken Stephens.

Stephens has lived in the same neighborhood just as long as the Boykin's. He says the husband, whose wife was a victim, told him what happened the next day.

"That this individual broke in their house and put him down on the bed or somewhere and put plates or saucers or whatever in his back and told him if moved, he heard that noise he would kill his wife and himself," said Stephens.

Less than a month later and about a mile away, the second attack happened in Modesto on Grand Prix Drive.

They are horrible memories that have never faded.

Neighbors are thankful the suspect is now behind bars.

"Thought it was about time," said Boykin.

Follow the conversation with Kurt Rivera on Facebook.

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