Paroled rapist captured in Palm Springs

A paroled rapist, who was reported missing after he cut off his GPS monitoring device and was harassing the family of his elderly victim with threatening and obscene phone calls has been captured in Palm Springs.

The San Bernadino Sheriff’s Department says, due to the extensive media coverage, a citizen observed Dennis McKenzie in the City of Palm Springs and contacted Detectives at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station.

At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, McKenzie was located by a Sheriff’s Specialized Enforcement Team in the 500 block of South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. McKenzie was taken into custody without incident.

McKenzie was sentenced to seven years in prison for raping an 80-year-old woman in 2004. He was paroled to a halfway house in Long Beach and registered as a sex offender.

Authorities say McKenzie has made more than 50 calls to the victim’s family.

The Investigators send many thanks for the media coverage, the assistance in capturing this suspect is greatly appreciated!