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Man charged in Maryland for knowingly transmitting HIV to women he met on dating sites

Posted at 8:06 AM, Apr 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-17 11:06:28-04

BALTIMORE — The Frederick County State's Attorney's Office in Maryland indicted a man who knowingly transmitted HIV to several women he met on dating sites.

According to officials, the Frederick County Police Department started an investigation in 2017 on 34-year-old Rudolph Jericho Smith after different women told authorities that they believed Smith had infected them with HIV.

During the department's investigation, officials were able to conduct witness interviews which informed them that Smith knew of his HIV-positive status since 2014.

A search warrant for Smith's blood was executed and a detective confirmed his positive status. The department was later notified that Smith continued to meet women on dating sites and had unprotected sex with them without telling them about his status.

Smith has been charged with first degree assault, reckless endangerment and knowing transfer of HIV.

The Frederick Police Department is asking anyone who may have had a sexual relationship with Smith around or after July 2017 to leave contact information on the Frederick Police Department’s Crime tip line. A detective will follow up with possible victims that have not been identified.