Convicted Rapist, Kidnapper Who Hid In FL For 40 Years Sentenced

CLEARWATER, FL — A convicted kidnapper and rapist who eluded authorities for decades in Florida is finally behind bars.

According to federal prosecutors, a judge sentenced Douglas Edward Bennett, 77, of Clearwater to 22 years in prison for assuming another’s identity, applying for a passport in that identity and possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

Bennett was also ordered to pay a fine of $200,000.

He pleaded guilty to the federal charges on Sept. 30, 2021.

“The sentence in this case sends a strong message: The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to ensuring violent criminals who commit identity theft to evade justice face consequences for their actions,” said Peter Kapoukakis, Special Agent in Charge of the DSS Miami Field Office. “DSS’ collaborative relationships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida and our law enforcement partners continue to be essential in the pursuit of justice.”

According to court documents, in 1975, a Connecticut jury convicted Bennett of several violent felony and sex offenses, including robbery, kidnapping, sexual contact, rape, and two counts of deviate sexual intercourse. At the time, a judge sentenced him to 9-18 years in state prison.

After his conviction, authorities said Bennett was permitted to remain out of custody pending appeal.

After his conviction was affirmed, prosecutors said he never surrendered to begin serving his sentence, and instead assumed the identity of Gordon Ewen, under which he lived for more than 40 years. According to Massachusetts death records, the real Gordon Ewen died in 1945.

Around July 2016, authorities said Bennett submitted a passport application using the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of Gordon Ewen and failed to disclose Bennett’s true identity.

On November 4, 2020, Bennett was arrested on federal charges and on a warrant from Connecticut. A fingerprint comparison confirmed that Bennett was the same person convicted in Connecticut in 1975, authorities said.

That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant at Bennett’s home where they discovered handwritten notes detailing the first time Bennett used Ewen’s identity and details on how he originally obtained Ewen’s identification documents.

Also inside Bennett’s home, investigators said they discovered and seized five firearms and nearly five thousand rounds of ammunition. As a convicted felon, Bennett is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

After serving his federal sentence, Bennett will be transported to Connecticut to serve a 9 to 18-year state sentence, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.