Ian Kroe was sentenced to 394 years for keeping a 74-year-old woman captive in a California hotel, where he raped, tortured, and manipulated her into fearing everyone she knew.
At a Glance
- Ian Kroe was sentenced to 394 years in prison after being convicted of 33 felony counts, including kidnapping, torture, and rape.
- He befriended the elderly victim after his mother’s death, then manipulated her into believing she was in danger from others.
- Kroe held the woman captive in a Belmont hotel for two years, abusing her and draining her finances.
- The victim suffered untreated injuries, including a broken ankle and finger.
- She was rescued after managing to contact a friend who alerted authorities.
Predator Masquerading as Protector
Ian Kroe, 58, will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of 33 felony counts, including torture, forcible rape, sodomy, false imprisonment, and elder abuse. Kroe lured his 74-year-old victim into a two-year nightmare by first building trust through his mother, who was close to the woman. After his mother’s death in 2016, he began isolating the victim—emotionally and physically.
District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe called Kroe a “master manipulator,” noting how he convinced the woman that her own friends and community posed a threat to her. Once she was isolated, Kroe took control of her finances and freedom, holding her in a Hyatt House hotel in Belmont from August 2020 until her rescue in 2022.
Abuse, Isolation, and Rescue
While in captivity, the victim endured systematic abuse, including repeated rape and untreated physical injuries. In 2021, she suffered a broken ankle, and later a fractured finger, both of which went untreated under Kroe’s control. Authorities found her battered and malnourished when they arrived, tipped off by a friend in New Mexico, whom she managed to contact against all odds.
Prosecutors said Kroe also tried delaying trial proceedings with fake medical excuses, attempting to manipulate the court just as he had manipulated his victim. The jury saw through his tactics, delivering convictions on every major charge.
A Warning to the Vulnerable
Kroe had no previous criminal record, making his monstrous actions even harder to anticipate. “Nothing would give a sign, or tell you to watch out,” said Wagstaffe. The judge, in handing down a 394-year sentence, recognized “the evilness of this [man] and the need to lock him up forever.”
This case stands as a chilling reminder of how predators often disguise themselves as helpers. As society grapples with rising elder abuse cases, authorities are urging families to stay vigilant and ensure seniors remain socially connected and financially protected.
Though justice was served, the trauma endured by the victim underscores a deeper societal failure to detect and prevent such prolonged abuse. Her survival is a testament to resilience—and a warning that the next Ian Kroe could be lurking where we least expect.
