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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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Ooltewah man charged with aggravated rape apparently made prostitute his ‘sex slave,’ authorities say

THUMBNAIL Contributed photo / Tyler Michael Benson
THUMBNAIL Contributed photo / Tyler Michael Benson THUMBNAIL Contributed photo / Tyler Michael Benson
photo Contributed photo / Tyler Michael Benson

A 32-year-old man from Ooltewah drugged, kidnapped and repeatedly raped a prostitute and held her hostage in his home until she was able to escape the next day, according to investigators with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Details from a criminal affidavit describe Tyler Michael Benson as a dangerous sexual criminal with a history of violence with prostitutes.

On the afternoon of July 19, Benson picked up a prostitute in Chattanooga and took her back to his home on Torbett Lane in Ooltewah, according to an affidavit from the sheriff’s office.

Benson and the woman discussed payments amounts and types of sexual activity, according to the affidavit. The woman told investigators she does not usually go to clients’ homes but was persuaded in this case, the document states.

The woman told investigators she fell asleep on the way to Benson’s home and, when the two arrived, Benson ran into the house to get money to pay for the cab. The taxi driver then drove off, which troubled the woman because she and Benson had agreed on 10 minutes of oral sex.