An investigation began in December 2004, after a man renting a room from Craig Cardella contacted police in Mansfield and said he had awakened during the night to discover Cardella in bed with him, holding a mask over his mouth and nose while touching him sexually, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw said.
A safe was discovered in Cardella's closet that contained two bottles of liquid later determined to be chloroform, along with prescription sleep medication, medical masks, a camcorder and digital storage devices, Bradshaw said. It is believed Cardella used the chloroform to prevent his victims from waking up, thereby rendering them helpless, Bradshaw said.
Cardella, who has pleaded not guilty, is charged with 17 counts of kidnapping, 18 counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, 18 counts of invasion of privacy, 18 counts of endangering another person and one count of stalking, Bradshaw said.
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