In a significant development that echoes painful chapters in the lives of many, Ian Cleary, a 31-year-old man from Saratoga, California, was extradited from France to the United States on October 12, 2023. He stands accused of a serious crime: sexually assaulting an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student during a party in 2013, an event that has haunted her for nearly a decade. The extradition, as communicated by the Appeal Court prosecutors’ office in Metz, France, marks a pivotal turn in a long-fought battle for justice.
- Video discusses college sexual assault risks
- Ian Cleary extradited to the U.S.
- Victim named Shannon Keeler urges charges
- Facebook messages confirm Cleary's involvement
- Low prosecution rates for campus rapes
- The incident occurred at Gettysburg College
The story begins on a fateful night in 2013 at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. Cleary, then a 20-year-old student, allegedly sneaked into the victim’s dormitory, violating her space and her body while she frantically texted friends for help. The assault left a mark not easily erased, instigating a persistent pursuit of justice on the part of the victim, Shannon Keeler. Despite the horror of that night, Keeler showed remarkable resilience. She reported the incident and underwent a rape examination the very same day.
Days turned into years, and what followed was both a struggle for recognition of her trauma and an uphill battle against a system that often hesitates to act on cases of campus sexual assault. Reports indicate that Keeler gathered evidence and witnesses, continuously urging authorities to take action. It wasn’t until 2021, after discovering a chilling Facebook message that appeared to come from Cleary’s account, that the wheels of justice began to turn. The message read, “So I raped you,” alongside others that provoked further scrutiny into the case.
Authorities executed a search warrant in June 2021 following the emergence of the Facebook messages, which confirmed that the account belonged to Cleary. This revelation fueled an international manhunt that culminated in Cleary’s arrest in April 2023, after he had been on the run for three years. French authorities detained him in Metz, where it took months for extradition proceedings to unfold, ultimately ruling in July that he could be sent back to face charges in the U.S.
As he landed at Charles de Gaulle airport and was turned over to U.S. authorities, echoes of Keeler’s determination resonated loudly. “I need to hear your voice,” another message from Cleary once stated, hauntingly juxtaposed with the charge against him and the struggles of countless victims who often wait years for their cases to be acknowledged.
The journey to this moment highlights a broader issue concerning campus sexual assault—a crime too often marginalized, where victims like Keeler feel both unheard and unseen. Reports suggest that only a fraction of campus rapes result in criminal prosecutions, largely due to victims’ fears and the challenges prosecutors face in obtaining convictions in such cases. The story has now entered a crucial phase, with Cleary’s extradition opening doors to potential court proceedings in Pennsylvania.
As investigators prepare for the upcoming legal battle, Keeler’s story stands as a poignant reminder of the challenges within the justice system, particularly regarding sexual assault cases. With Cleary now in U.S. custody, many are looking forward to a day of reckoning in which the truth comes to light. Authorities have affirmed their commitment to seeing this case through to the end, underscoring the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, not only for Keeler but for all who have been silenced in similar circumstances.
In the unfolding weeks, as legal proceedings progress, the case will likely draw attention to the ongoing struggle against sexual violence on campuses nationwide, amplifying the voices of those who seek justice and potentially reshaping legal protocols to better protect victims.
