Man pretends to be 18-year-old and rapes Cape Coral teenager in a van

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A local father reports to Cape Coral police that a 25-year-old man posing as an 18-year-old allegedly sexually abused his 15-year-old daughter.

According to police, 28-year-old Christian Edward Hartman met the teenager at a car meet a few days before May 23, 2024.

The two exchanged phone numbers and Hartman allegedly told the victim he was 18.

Plans were then made to meet in a park in Cape Coral, police said.

According to police, Hartman invited the girl into his van in the park to listen to music.

According to the victim, the van had no seats, just a mattress and curtains on the windows.

The suspect is then accused of sexually abusing the 15-year-old.

The girl told her father what had happened and a police investigation followed.

Hartman was located the same day the crime was reported and questioned by detectives.

According to police, he confessed to the charges and was arrested without incident.