HILLSBORO, Oregon — Content warning: This article contains information about allegations of sexual abuse and could be offensive or disturbing to some readers.
A 29-year-old man is facing numerous felony assault charges after Washington County prosecutors said he sexually assaulted an unconscious woman at a TriMet station in Hillsboro in June 2023.
Eduardo Guillermo Madrid-Roque was arrested in early April and appeared in front of a judge in Washington County on Wednesday.
According to court documents, a 63-year-old woman, who has not been identified, arrived at Portland International Airport (PDX) on June 14, 2023, for her grandson’s graduation. While enroute from California, the woman took a newly prescribed medication in tandem with a glass of wine. The woman had an unexpected reaction to the combination and became heavily intoxicated. She took a MAX Train from PDX, exiting at the Hillsboro Transit Center around 8 p.m.
TriMet surveillance cameras caught the woman exiting the bus and sitting down on the sidewalk, appearing visibly impaired. She then laid down on the sidewalk and removed her pants.
Around 9:15 p.m., prosecutors said Madrid-Roque arrived at the transit center and noticed the woman unconscious on the ground. He then sexually assaulted her on and off for around 30 minutes. He stopped on a few occasions when other people passed by the area, but proceeded when they left. Madrid-Roque left the area on a bus around 9:45 p.m.
The woman remained unconscious at the location until 10:40 p.m. when transit police arrived on scene. The officers transported her to the hospital. The woman had no recollection of the assault, but did reach out to TriMet the next day to track down items she had lost that night. It was at that point that the security video was reviewed and the assault discovered.
DNA taken from the woman’s clothing have been matched to Madrid-Roque. He is expected to be back in court next Wednesday, where prosecutors will argue that he needs to be kept behind bars for the trial. Madrid-Roque has a prior criminal history, including charges of resisting arrest in 2019, and has been convicted twice for felony assault charges. He also has a conviction for public indecency.
KGW reached out to TriMet about this incident, with the agency replying in a statement, “It is worth noting that with more than 8,000 cameras spread across our system, we help our law enforcement partners solve and prosecute crimes across Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, whether they take place on our system or not. These 8,000 plus cameras are a powerful tool in aiding investigators in bring offenders to justice."
TriMet said it has nearly 380 employees and contractors specializing in safety and security, and it plans increase its presence with the approval of their 2025 budget that has an emphasis on safety and security.
"We are thankful that a TriMet employee saw that there was a person in distress and called 911 for a welfare check," TriMet said. "It also bears repeating the public can do their part and if they see suspicious or criminal behavior to report it immediately to TriMet personnel or call 911.”
Resources
If you or someone you know have experienced sexual assault and need support, help is available.
You can contact the Sexual Assault Resource Center, (503) 626-9100. They are located at 4900 SW Griffith Drive Ste. 135, Beaverton, OR 97005.
The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or rainn.org. It is available 24/7.