Pueblo Convict Confesses To Rapes, Authorities Say

Authorities believed that Robert Bruce, 50, was the so-called “Ether Man” who allegedly used a rag soaked with chemicals to subdue rape victims in several states. However, they couldn’t prove he was the prime suspect until this week.

Police in Norman, Okla. said they reached a plea deal with Bruce. The deal included Bruce confessing to crimes in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, police said — including the rapes of 14 female students at the University of Oklahoma while he was a part-time student there from 1985 to 2001.

An Oklahoma newspaper is reporting that the confession happened in September 2011 after a Pueblo judge sentenced Bruce to 64 years in prison. A jury found him guilty of the attempted murder of a police officer and his family. Prosecutors said Bruce tried to make an explosive device to blow up the officer’s home, and that the officer was to testify against Bruce in a “peeping Tom” case.

It’s unclear why Bruce’s alleged confession was not revealed until now.

Capt. Mike Praizner of the Norman Police Department described Bruce as “incredibly intelligent” with a “very good memory.”

“He just basically vomited information,” Praizner said. “He was unbelievably accurate and spoke in detail.”

Bruce detailed how he would target college coeds ages 18-21, follow them home and sexually assault them in the middle of the night, Praizner said.

After Bruce’s DNA was entered into a national database, his profile alerted police and detectives in Oklahoma and Texas as a prime suspect in several attacks.

“He’s the kind of guy movies are made about,” Prainzer said.

Police turned in probable cause affidavits and recommended at least 20 charges against Bruce, ranging from burglary to rape.

The Cleveland County district attorney confirmed that he received the paperwork and is working on filing charges.

Police said it’s unlikely Bruce would be extradited to Oklahoma, but detectives want to make sure charges are filed just in case Bruce is ever released from prison in Colorado.