GOP Activist Alleged Rapist Commits Suicide

Greg Peterson, a GOP fundraiser accused of raping four women, appears in court for the second day of his preliminary hearing on Aug. 15. (Pool Photo)

Accused date rapist and GOP activist Greg Peterson was found dead inside his Heber cabin Tuesday afternoon from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

Peterson, 37, was arrested in July on more than two dozen charges in connection with the alleged assaults. His bail was initially set at $750,000, but it was raised to $2 million, partly because prosecutors considered him a flight risk.

He bailed out of jail on Friday.

Court documents say Peterson met two of his accusers online, convinced them to meet him for a lunch date, followed them back home, forced his way into their homes and sexually assaulted them.

Another woman said she met Peterson at a church function, where he asked her to go to a movie. When she got in his car, he allegedly used a gun to force her into going to his cabin in Heber where he sexually assaulted her.

Another woman claims he used her illegal immigration status as a way to keep her silent over the rape.

Peterson’s defense attorneys claimed the alleged victims had fabricated their stories and that the sexual activity in question was strictly consensual.

Peterson was charged with aggravated kidnapping, forcible sexual abuse, and object rape.

 by David Wells and Aaron Vaughn