Accused Rapist: I Thought She Was Dead

A man accused of raping a woman as she lay unconscious on a city sidewalk in broad daylight told cops he thought he was merely molesting a corpse, according to investigators. Witnesses who say they saw Melvin Jackson having sex with the woman flagged down a passing patrol car. When officers stopped Jackson, who was walking down the street with his pants unzipped, he said: "I thought that lady was dead," the Kansas City Star reports.

The victim told police that she passed out after feeling dizzy while walking. She does not remember the alleged attack, but says she woke up without her underwear and recalls hearing shouts of "Help her! Get off her!" from witnesses. "I've been a prosecutor for a long time, so you kinda get to the point where not a lot surprises you," said a Jackson County prosecutor. "This is a new one. This is not one that I've seen come through before." (More rape stories.)