38-Year-Old Gary Man Charged With Rape, Burglary, and Intimidation in Domestic Case
Gary- A 38-year-old Gary man has been charged after police say he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home, assaulted her, and raped her while her children were inside the residence, according to a probable cause affidavit filed October 29, 2025, in Lake County.
Detectives with the Gary Police Department allege Damian Emmanuel Donaldson, 38, forced his way into the victim’s home in the 2000 block of West 4th Place around 1:00 a.m. on October 28, 2025, despite being under an active Illinois protection order prohibiting him from contacting her and her children.
According to court documents, the woman told police she heard noises at her back door and opened it to find Donaldson outside. He reportedly told her he needed to wait inside until his “ride arrived” and reminded her that child welfare officials would remove her children if police were called again. Out of fear, she allowed him to wait inside.
Once inside, Donaldson allegedly became aggressive, took her phone, and refused to leave. After her children went back to sleep, Donaldson allegedly told her she “was going to give him some” before forcing her onto the couch, choking her, and sexually assaulting her.
The affidavit states the woman repeatedly told him to stop, but he ignored her and threatened to kill her if she resisted. She told investigators he forced her to perform sexual acts and raped her multiple times, choking her until she couldn’t breathe. He allegedly told her she “was his,” that she “can’t tell him no,” and that they were “going to have more kids.”
Later that morning, Donaldson allegedly became angry after she called his brother for a ride. He reportedly poured marinara sauce into her gas tank, threatened to kill her with a glass jar, and used a metal pipe to smash the windshield and taillights of her blue Land Rover Discovery. The affidavit notes that part of the damage was captured on video by one of her children.
Donaldson then left the area and was later located at a nearby hospital, where security detained him at gunpoint until police arrived.
Detectives reviewed prior incidents involving Donaldson and the same victim. In April 2025, he allegedly attacked her with a pickaxe, punched her multiple times, and choked her while their children were present before smashing her vehicle and breaking windows in her home. In another report filed October 18, 2025, police documented 239 phone calls in one day from Donaldson, during which he allegedly threatened to burn down her house and said he had found her new address.
Police confirmed an Illinois protection order was active through October 9, 2026, prohibiting him from contacting the woman or her five children. Detectives also verified that Donaldson had cut off his ankle monitor in a separate pending case before this incident.
Donaldson was lodged in the Lake County Jail on October 29, 2025.
Charges filed October 29,2025:
• Rape – Level 3 Felony
• Attempted Rape – Level 3 Felony
• Burglary Resulting in Bodily Injury – Level 3 Felony
• Criminal Confinement with Moderate Bodily Injury – Level 4 Felony
• Burglary of a Dwelling – Level 4 Felony
• Stalking (Violation of Protection Order) – Level 5 Felony
• Stalking (Threat of Sexual Battery or Death) – Level 5 Felony
• Intimidation (Drawing or Using a Deadly Weapon) – Level 5 Felony
• Intimidation (Threat to Commit a Forcible Felony) – Level 6 Felony (x2)
• Domestic Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury – Level 6 Felony
• Domestic Battery Committed in the Presence of a Child – Level 6 Felony (x2)
• Strangulation – Level 6 Felony (x2)
• Neglect of a Dependent – Level 6 Felony
• Interference with Reporting of a Crime – Class A Misdemeanor
• Invasion of Privacy – Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief (Damage Between $750 and $50,000) – Class A Misdemeanor (x2)
