A harrowing case out of California has shocked the Bay Area community and reignited concern about the dangers of online dating. A woman was allegedly kidnapped, raped, beaten, and forced into prostitution by a man she met on Facebook Dating, enduring six days of what police described as “torture and exploitation.” The accused, 30-year-old Devin Budd, has been charged with multiple felonies, including rape, human trafficking, and assault. The details emerging from the East Palo Alto Police Department and court proceedings paint a horrifying picture of control, manipulation, and violence inflicted upon a woman who thought she was meeting someone for a casual date.
The Meeting That Led to a Nightmare
The alleged victim, identified in court documents only as Jane Doe, first connected with Devin Budd on Facebook Dating in June 2025. What began as an online conversation quickly escalated into a real-world meeting. She agreed to meet Budd at the Oakland Coliseum Station, near the former home of the Oakland Athletics, unaware that this encounter would soon spiral into a prolonged ordeal of captivity and abuse.
According to investigators, Devin Budd persuaded the woman to accompany him to a hotel in Alameda County. Once there, the tone of their interaction turned violent. Court documents and police statements indicate that Budd allegedly raped her multiple times, subjected her to repeated beatings, and forced her into prostitution under threats of further harm. Detectives revealed that Budd confiscated her cellphone to isolate her from any outside help, telling her, “Don’t make me kill you.”
The woman was also reportedly drugged throughout her captivity. Devin Budd allegedly gave her cocaine, clouding her memory and further weakening her ability to resist or escape. As her physical injuries worsened, she lost a tooth, sustained broken bones in her face, and developed severe bruising around both eyes. Hotel staff eventually grew suspicious of the bloody state of the room, but it was not until the woman managed to catch the attention of a nearby police officer that her ordeal came to an end.
Her rescue unfolded when she mouthed the words “help me” to the officer while wearing sunglasses and a ski mask to conceal her injuries. The officer, sensing distress, asked her to remove the coverings, revealing extensive bruising, facial fractures, and swelling that had rendered her nearly unrecognizable. Her whispered plea led to Devin Budd’s immediate arrest and the unraveling of a string of violent incidents tied to his name.
A Pattern of Violence and Exploitation
As investigators delved deeper into Budd’s background, a disturbing history of violence against women began to surface. Despite being only 30 years old, Devin Budd had already accumulated a record that included prior arrests and a prison sentence for domestic violence. He had been released from prison in 2024 after serving time for a 2022 domestic violence conviction in Sacramento. However, his release was followed by a string of new allegations involving brutal assaults and sexual violence.
In the months leading up to Jane Doe’s kidnapping, Devin Budd had reportedly been arrested twice for attacking women in the Bay Area. One incident occurred in Fremont, California, where a woman accused him of beating, choking, and sexually assaulting her. That case was eventually dropped due to “lack of evidence.” Another woman came forward a month earlier, alleging that Budd had punched her in the face repeatedly, but that case too was dismissed when the victim failed to pursue her report.
Authorities have also linked Devin Budd to an earlier case involving the sexual assault of a disabled woman. According to police records, Budd allegedly coerced the woman into stealing from a Target store and later choked her during a sexual assault. Investigators confirmed that Budd’s DNA matched evidence from that assault, but prosecutors did not move forward with charges at the time.
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These repeated failures to secure convictions have raised pressing questions about systemic shortcomings in addressing serial offenders, particularly those involved in domestic or sexual violence. Legal experts have pointed to a pattern of victims withdrawing complaints out of fear, shame, or coercion—issues that make it difficult for prosecutors to pursue cases even when there is physical evidence.
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Deputy District Attorney Alexis Causey, who questioned Jane Doe during a preliminary hearing, highlighted the depth of psychological control Budd appeared to exercise over his victims. When asked whether she ever felt Budd could protect her, Jane Doe responded bluntly: “He was the only one harming me, so no, not really.”
During the six days of her captivity, Devin Budd allegedly forced the woman to solicit sex on the corner of International Boulevard in Oakland, a known area for human trafficking and prostitution. Witnesses reported seeing Budd watching from nearby as she interacted with men on the street. Jane Doe testified that Budd instructed her on how much to charge “customers” and supplied condoms for her to use. Her statements suggest that the trafficker exercised total control, alternating between threats of death and feigned protection to manipulate her compliance.
Justice, Accountability, and the Dangers of Online Exploitation
Following his arrest, Devin Budd was charged with multiple felonies, including rape, human trafficking, sexual abuse, battery, and parole violation. Although an initial torture charge was dropped, the breadth of the remaining accusations underscores the brutality of the crimes. He is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court in November.
The East Palo Alto Police Department described the case as one of the most disturbing they have encountered this year, emphasizing both the physical and psychological trauma inflicted upon the victim. Officers credited Jane Doe’s courage and quick thinking in signaling for help as the key factor that saved her life.
This case also exposes broader societal concerns about online dating platforms and their vulnerability to misuse by predators. Facebook Dating, like other social media and dating services, does not conduct comprehensive criminal background checks on users. While these platforms offer convenience and accessibility, they also provide opportunities for manipulation and exploitation, especially by individuals with histories of violence.
Experts in digital safety and victim advocacy have called for renewed scrutiny of how social media companies protect users from potential abusers. The rapid escalation of violence in this case—occurring just days after the first in-person meeting—underscores how swiftly trust can be weaponized by offenders. Many advocates argue that stronger online verification systems, better education on identifying red flags, and more robust safety tools for reporting suspicious behavior are urgently needed.
Meanwhile, the case has renewed attention to California’s challenges in managing parolees with violent histories. Despite Devin Budd’s previous convictions and arrests for violent offenses, he was able to move freely and reoffend within months of release. Legal observers have pointed out that the state’s parole system faces chronic issues of oversight, particularly when dealing with offenders who display patterns of gender-based violence.
The revelation that prior charges against Devin Budd were repeatedly dismissed also raises uncomfortable questions about how effectively the justice system supports victims of sexual and domestic assault. Victims’ advocates stress that many survivors are too terrified to testify, particularly against abusers who have already demonstrated a capacity for extreme violence. This lack of follow-through can allow dangerous offenders to remain at large, leading to preventable tragedies like this one.
For Jane Doe, recovery will likely be a long and difficult process. The extent of her physical injuries, combined with the trauma of repeated sexual assault and coercion, points to a profound psychological toll. Nevertheless, her testimony has already become a crucial part of the prosecution’s case and a powerful reminder of the resilience of survivors who speak out despite overwhelming fear.
In the weeks since Devin Budd’s arrest, community organizations in the East Bay have begun rallying around survivors of sexual violence, offering counseling, legal assistance, and awareness campaigns about the risks of online interactions. Advocates have also urged law enforcement agencies to treat reports of domestic and sexual assault with greater urgency, particularly when patterns of behavior are evident.
The East Bay Times, which first reported many of the details in this case, described the woman’s rescue as “a miracle amid unimaginable cruelty.” Police officials echoed that sentiment, noting that the officer who noticed her distress likely prevented further harm—or even death.
As Budd awaits trial, prosecutors are expected to present additional evidence linking him to past assaults, potentially establishing a pattern of predation and control. Legal experts suggest that if convicted, Budd could face decades in prison, given the severity and multiplicity of the charges.
This case also serves as a stark illustration of how predators exploit vulnerabilities—both personal and systemic—to perpetrate harm. From the manipulation of online platforms to the failures of institutions to intervene earlier, the tragedy highlights the urgent need for reform at multiple levels. Whether through improved victim protection, tighter parole monitoring, or stricter accountability for repeat offenders, the lessons from this case are clear: unchecked violence breeds repetition, and silence only enables it.
In the end, Jane Doe’s survival and willingness to come forward have turned an individual tragedy into a public reckoning. Her courage has already begun to expose the deep fractures in a system meant to protect the vulnerable. The hope among advocates, police, and community members is that her story will not be just another headline but a catalyst for meaningful change—a reminder that justice for one survivor can illuminate the path to safety for many others.