LONDONDERRY — A Mississippi sex offender facing murder charges in his home state is now accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman in Londonderry.
New Hampshire court records show Ryan Christopher Hopkins, 37, of Jackson, Mississippi, was arrested at the scene after a woman reported she had just been choked, beaten and raped by a truck driver she met online.
Mississippi officials say Hopkins was one of two people arrested and charged in 2019 in connection with a missing 21-year-old woman found dead in shallow water in nearby Louisiana.
It’s unclear where this case stands or why Hopkins was free. New Hampshire court filings say, “First-degree murder charges pending in MS.”
Because of this, a judge ordered Hopkins to be held in New Hampshire without bail.
An affidavit from Londonderry Police said the 25-year-old woman in this case lives in Arkansas and Hopkins accepted an offer to show her around while he drove to work.
“She stated that she dated him for a few weeks before deciding she wanted to go home,” the affidavit reads.
According to the woman, on Aug. 24, she told Hopkins that she was ready to move back to the Midwest, but he “started making her uncomfortable” and “started asking her to have sex with him.”
She described how police were forced to have sex in the back of Hopkins’ truck, which was parked outside a diner in Londonderry, and how he fell asleep with his arm and leg over her afterwards.
“Mr. Hopkins is much taller than (redacted),” police said, “standing at 6’4” and weighed over 300 lbs, while she was about 5’3” and weighed about 150 lbs.”
After being sexually assaulted and thrown around again the next morning, the woman told police that Hopkins drove to a gas station off the freeway in Hooksett and “told her to get out of the truck.”
She called the police from inside as he was driving away.
Surveillance footage from the gas station helped police locate the company Hopkins worked for, which was displayed on the side of the truck, and its location shortly thereafter using the vehicle’s GPS tracker.
An officer was told: “He was to pick up at Coca-Cola in Londonderry.”
He was arrested there and the truck was confiscated.
In an interview with police, Hopkins said he first met the woman at a gas station and offered to give her a ride.
“Hopkins stated that they discussed pricing for sex acts, but he told her he currently had no money and would not be paid until Tuesday,” the police affidavit said.
It continues, “Hopkins explained that he was simply trying to be a Good Samaritan by taking her with him and found that she was clearly insane.”
He was indicted by a grand jury this month on kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual assault and second-degree assault; strangulation and criminal restraint.
Records show that he was convicted in 2008 and placed on the Mississippi sex offender registry for “assassination with intent to commit sexual abuse.”