Mark Walker

mwalker@argusleader.com

Sioux Falls Police say a man climbed through an unlocked window and raped a woman at a Sioux Falls domestic abuse shelter early Monday morning.

Heath Douglas Big Eagle, 47, entered the victim's room at My Sister's Friend's House between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. through an unlocked window, police spokesman Sam Clemens said. Her child was sleeping in the same room.

Big Eagle raped the woman and then left the shelter through the same window, according to Clemens. The woman reported the rape to shelter employees, who called police.

Detectives found Big Eagle about 5 p.m. Monday at his home in the 200 block of South Summit Avenue.

He was arrested on charges of second-degree rape, first-degree burglary and a protection order violation.

Big Eagle made his initial appearance in court Tuesday on the charges. If convicted, he could face up to 75 years in prison.

Eric Johnson, Minnehaha County deputy state's attorney, deferred to the court for bond recommendations because of the seriousness of the allegations and Big Eagle's lengthy violent criminal history.

"He forced (the victim) to use methamphetamine, and he forced her against her will to have sexual intercourse with him, threatening to assault her if she didn't," Johnson said of the allegations detailed in his report.

Big Eagle's 20-page South Dakota criminal history includes convictions on 11 different simple assault charges since 1985 — the most recent coming in 2007, Johnson said.

Judge John Hinrichs set a $50,000 cash-only bond.

Sarah Johnson, shelter advocate of My Sister Friend's House, declined to comment about the incident. The shelter later released a statement saying the shelter wants the public to know this was an unique incident.

"This kind of horrific crime is an extremely rare occurrence at a shelter dedicated to providing safety and support to victims of domestic and sexual violence," the statement read. "We know that no one program or agency can do this alone. No one program or agency can provide safety 100 percent of the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We ask for the support and commitment of all community members to end violence against all women and children, as well as men who are victims of domestic and sexual violence."

Amy Carter, operations director for the Children's Inn, a private, non-profit organization for domestic abuse victims in Sioux Falls, said one of the most dangerous times for a women in an abusive relationship is when she leaves, because her abuser has nothing left to lose at that point.

With that in mind, domestic abuse shelters work tirelessly to make sure that guests feel right at home.

"When a woman leaves an abusive relationship she is seeking safety and a break from the abuse," Carter said. "We do whatever it takes to make them feel safe."

Carter hopes this incident does not deter women stuck in an abusive relationship from seeking shelter.

Statement from My Sister Friend's House

We cannot comment on an ongoing investigation. However, this kind of horrific crime is an extremely rare occurrence at a shelter dedicated to providing safety and support to victims of domestic and sexual violence. We thank the Sioux Falls Police Department for their immediate and respectful response. The trauma and fear these kinds of crimes inflict on the victims of violence is indescribable, and impacts all victims of domestic and sexual violence and community members.

The reality is harsh. One out of four women in the USA continue to be battered. The majority of women murdered by their batterers, are murdered while they are leaving or after they have left their batterer. Battering is about power and control, so when a woman leaves the batterer very often increase their violence to reassert control. Some batterers will use any means possible to regain control without regard or respect for authority, boundaries or life. This crime underscores the reason for protecting confidentiality as a cornerstone of domestic violence victims' safety and guarding shelters as sacred ground.

As advocates dedicated to ending violence, we are shocked and saddened by what has happened. We renew our efforts to provide safety and support for victims, and to hold offenders accountable. We know that no one program or agency can do this alone. No one program or agency can provide safety 100% of the time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We ask for the support and commitment of all community members to end violence against all women and children, as well as men who are victims of domestic and sexual violence.

We need to pose some difficult questions to understand why this kind of crime happens, and find solutions. Why is it expected and accepted that victims of domestic violence hide in shelter? No other victims of violent crime are forced to do give up so much and seek refuge and safety this way. Batterers are "serial criminals," using numerous forms of violence routinely on multiple victims. How can we as a society consistently and effectively hold batterers accountable for their violence?

We ask that you join us in prayers for the victims of this crime, and all victims of domestic and sexual violence. Please join our efforts to end the violence.