Man arrested for brutal sexual assault and beating of Wisconsin college student pretended he found victim

Brandon Thompson’s attorneys said he has a degree in criminal justice and psychology

A suspect accused of brutally raping and beating a University of Wisconsin student reportedly pretended to be an innocent bystander after the vicious attack.

Brandon Thompson, 26, is facing charges of sexual assault, reckless injury, and strangulation in connection with the attack that left a young woman in her 20s critically injured, the Madison Police Department said.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said that around 3.20am on Sunday, a witness heard a commotion and approached the scene. Mr Thompson was standing next to the victim and reportedly told the witness that he had “just found” her and didn’t know what had happened.

While the witness called emergency services, Mr Thompson fled the scene in his vehicle.

The victim, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, suffered a broken jaw and other life-threatening injuries. She is in critical condition but is expected to survive.

“I think one of the most frightening things [is that it was a random attack],” Chief Barnes said at a press conference on Wednesday. “...This case will not be complete until this cowardly attacker receives the justice he deserves.”

Investigators were able to link Mr Thompson to the scene thanks to surveillance video submitted by residents of the area that captured Mr Thompson’s license plate and that he was walking right behind the victim before the attack unfolded.

Brandon Thompson, 26, is awaiting charges of sexual assault, reckless injury, and strangulation in connection with the attack that left a young woman in her 20s critically injured (Madison Police Department)

Chief Barnes said that approximately two hours before the attack, Mr Thompson was pulled over by Fitchburg police officers over a registration violation. The neighbouring police department provided bodycam footage from the traffic stop that showed Mr Thompson’s clothing matched what he was wearing during the Madison attack.

“As a result of this video, detectives were able to read a license plate that directly led to the identification of Brandon Thompson as the perpetrator of this assault,” Assistant Chief Paige Valenta of the Madison Police Department said.

Ms Valenta said that DNA evidence had been collected from the scene and sent to a state crime lab.

“Her life is forever changed,” Ms Valenta added. “Her family’s life is forever changed. We will continue to work hard to ensure that Mr Thompson is held fully accountable in a court of law for the heinous act he perpetrated.”

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes (right) and Assistant Chief Paige Valenta at a press conference (TMJ4 News)

The suspect’s attorneys said in a statement to TMJ4 that he is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and has a degree in criminal justice and psychology. He reportedly works for a biotech company in Madison.

Madison police said Mr Thompson appeared to have no connection with the victim.

He was arrested on Wednesday morning and is now awaiting official charges.