California Man Sentenced to 394 Years for Raping, Holding 74-Year-Old Family Friend Hostage in Hotel for Two Years

A California court has imposed a staggering 394-year prison sentence on Ian Edard Kroe, 58, for his role in the prolonged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 74-year-old family friend. The sentence, one of the longest in San Mateo County history, reflects the severity of Kroe's actions over a two-year period.

Beginning in August 2020, Kroe held the elderly woman captive at the Hyatt House Belmont Hotel, where he subjected her to repeated sexual assaults and threats of violence. According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, he warned her that any attempt to escape would result in her torture and death.

Kroe, originally from Minnesota, had developed a friendship with the victim after she reached out to him in 2016 following the death of his mother. However, this relationship quickly deteriorated as Kroe's controlling behavior escalated. He drained her bank accounts and isolated her from the outside world, turning what began as a supportive connection into a nightmare.

“It just started out as a friendship with the victim, then suddenly this guy turns into a beast,” remarked San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe after Kroe was convicted on 33 felony counts, including torture and false imprisonment.

During her captivity, the victim suffered severe injuries, including a broken ankle in 2021, which Kroe refused to treat. It wasn't until August 2022 that she managed to reach out to a friend in New Mexico, who alerted authorities. When police arrived, they found her in a dire state—naked, covered in bruises, and unable to move independently.

Kroe's criminal history was notably minimal prior to this case, raising concerns about how someone with no serious record could commit such heinous acts. “Mr. Kroe is richly deserving of that for what he did to this woman,” Wagstaffe stated, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the case.

Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Kroe attempted to argue that the sexual acts were consensual and even claimed that his victim was controlling him through witchcraft. These assertions were dismissed by the court.

A restitution hearing is scheduled for October 29 to determine the financial compensation Kroe will owe his victim for the extensive trauma inflicted upon her.