ST. CROIX — In St. Croix, a man has been charged with rape and attempted murder following a brutal assault on his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend. The incident, detailed in court records, began with a deceptive pickup and escalated into a violent confrontation involving the victim's romantic rival. What follows is a clear account of the alleged events, the victim's statements to police, the responses from the accused and his new girlfriend, and the resulting charges.

According to court records, just after midnight on Wednesday, the 17-year-old contacted authorities to report that she had been assaulted by Collin Hobson, her ex-boyfriend. She said she had been in a relationship with him for about two years but ended it around mid-August due to his infidelity. The teenager said she met Hobson when she was 14 and told him she was 15; he reportedly said he was 21 and did not care about her age as long as she kept their relationship quiet. She told police that they were frequently intimate as a couple, with the only conflict stemming from his ongoing affairs with another woman.

On the day of the alleged incident, Hobson told her he was coming to pick her up because he wanted to see her. She believed he intended an intimate encounter. However, when he arrived at 9:30 p.m., he drove to a nearby supermarket parking lot and confronted her about possibly giving him an infection. During the verbal argument, another young woman suddenly emerged from the back seat—the victim's romantic rival and now Hobson's girlfriend.

The two women began fighting, and Hobson reportedly held the alleged victim's hands so his new girlfriend could strike her. The altercation moved from the vehicle to the roadway. When the 17-year-old said she started gaining the upper hand, Hobson allegedly grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and tried to strangle her. She fought back until she broke free, ran away, and called 911. She reported throat pain, and police observed multiple abrasions on her back, neck, arms, and legs.

When questioned, Hobson's new girlfriend admitted hiding in the back seat during the pickup to confront his ex. She acknowledged joining the verbal dispute but claimed the alleged victim escalated it to physical violence. Hobson echoed this, saying the young woman started the fight. He admitted to "separating" the two but said he could not recall exactly how he used his hands. Court documents note that he "admitted to having relations with [the alleged victim] but denied having sexual relations with her."

Hobson was arrested and charged with attempted murder, second-degree rape, second-degree assault, simple assault and battery, and disturbing the peace by fighting—all as acts of domestic violence. Court records indicate his initial appearance was on Thursday, but details on bail or bond conditions were unavailable at press time.