ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – St. Louis County police and prosecutors are encouraging any victims of an accused serial rapist to come forward as their investigation continues.

At a Thursday news conference, they thanked the women who already came forward, which resulted in charges being filed this week against Yahya A. Maly of Ballwin. But it’s believed there are more victims.

“I want you to know your voice matters, we hear you, we see you, and we respect you,” St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said. “Your voice matters and we are here for you.”

According to a police probable cause statement, Maly, 28, raped at least five women between March 1, 2023, and Feb. 2, 2025, at his apartment in the 100 block of Log Trail Drive, near Vlasis Park.

Maly has been charged with seven counts of second-degree rape, two counts of first-degree rape or attempted rape, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, and two counts of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy. He appeared in court Thursday morning for a procedural hearing. In the meantime, he remains jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

Investigators said Maly met the victims on dating apps and went under the name “John.”

Maly would get the victims in his apartment, where he made numerous sexual advances on them before forcing himself on the victims and assaulting them. Some of the victims were assaulted more than once. In each case, the women either made it clear they were not interested in having sex with Maly prior to the assaults, or Maly forced himself on the victims without consent.

During Thursday’s news conference, Lt. Col. Gerald Lohr, commanding officer for the Division of Criminal Investigation, confirmed Maly was enrolled at Logan University, a chiropractic school, in Chesterfield. Police have been in touch with the university.

Detectives have seized Maly’s phone and computer and are using that to aid in their search for additional victims.

Lohr said the victims they know of are from the St. Louis region but that doesn’t exclude the possibility other victims could live elsewhere.

“Let me begin by thanking the victims that came forward in this case. The courage that it takes for them to come forward and report these crimes is tremendous,” he said. “And it takes a lot for somebody to come forward and report some type of crime as heinous as this.”

Lohr said they will bring justice for these victims.

With leads going back several months, Lohr thanked detectives for their work on the case. He also praised victim advocates for providing support to those who have already come forward.

Lohr pivoted to remind the public to exercise caution when meeting people on social media and dating apps and meet in public places until you are comfortable with that person.

“The person you’re meeting online isn’t always the person that you believe them to be,” he said.

Lohr said the victims shared one commonality—they were all very trusting.

“While trust is a good thing to have in this world—it’s a good trait for people to have—our victims were very trusting,” he said.

While fielding questions from reporters, Lohr confirmed Maly is a U.S. citizen.

Price Smith and Lohr acknowledged that sexual assault is a far too common occurrence and that it can create a stigma preventing victims from speaking up.

The county prosecutor reminded potential victims they are safe to contact law enforcement or her office.

“You are not alone. And we want you to know that you are safe to come forward and you will not go through this process alone. Your voice matters. You matter,” Price Smith said.