FRYEBURG, Maine — Police arrested 29-year-old Andrew Connelly on Wednesday, charging him with felony kidnapping and gross sexual assault, after receiving a tip that a woman was being held inside his home against her will.
Police say Connelly met his 18-year-old victim on a dating site and brought her back to this home on Main Street in Fryeburg, where he held her against her will and raped her.
Police say the victim had no cell service but was able to reach out to a friend using social media through a WiFi connection. The friend called 911.
Police went to Connelly’s house, where they found the victim. Connelly was arrested and the victim was brought to a local hospital.
Sarah Wadsworth, a teacher in Fryeburg, says the news is terrifying and also a good reminder you can’t trust people you meet on the Internet.
“We have to teach kids to be safe online. They don’t realize the dangers of it because it’s so natural in their world,” said Fryeburg.
Connelly is being held at Oxford County Jail without bail.