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TORTURE HOUSE
NEIGHBORS in an affluent, quiet cul-de-sac claimed they heard screams and banging on the walls of a house where a woman was allegedly raped and tortured for months before she escaped.
The victim was found in California state park down the hill from the Chino Hills house where Peter McGuire is accused of tormenting her from January 1 to June 9, according to the criminal complaint.
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He "did cut and disable the tongue, and put out an eye and slit the nose, ear and lip" of the victim, the criminal complaint said.
People in the park saw the victim and called 911, police said.
Deputies took care of the woman, who's now in stable condition in a hospital, and executed a search warrant on McGuire's home two days later.
A neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told The Sun that police came into the home through the garage.
CRIME STORIES
By that time, McGuire, 59, was gone, Chino Hills Police Captain Garth Goodell said during the June 14 city council meeting.
Deputies from the Chino Hills Police Department and the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office tracked him down to a home in the City of Placentia, which is about 15 miles southwest of Chino Hills.
When law enforcement swarmed the home, he barricaded himself inside for a period of time until he surrendered without incident, Goodell said.
McGuire pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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The charges include torture, kidnapping to commit another crime, kidnapping, mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment by violence, forcible rape, two counts of sodomy by use of force and forcible oral copulation.
BANGING AND SCREAMING IN THE HOUSE
In the months leading up to McGuire's arrest, one of the suspect's neighbors claimed that she and other members of the cul de sac heard screams from the house.
After talking to other neighbors and posting about it on their local nextdoor.com channel, she learned she wasn't the only one who heard the noises.
"Another neighbor that reported some banging on the wall, and he called police because he could hear the banging and he could hear screams for help," the neighbor told The Sun.
"I think, some people were too scared to say something, or maybe they did call the police. But the police didn't do anything about it.
"They said there was no substantial evidence for them to do a wellness check ... I was told, there was no way for them to pinpoint where the screams are coming from."
She said the police tried using the PA system to make contact with whoever was inside but they never spoke to McGuire or anyone in the house.
"There have been calls for service from nearby neighbors since the beginning of the year referencing possible domestic disturbance," the Chino Hills PD wrote in an email to The Sun.
"A deputy responded to each of the calls and no disturbance was ever substantiated. The house was quiet and no one answered the door during each of the calls."
The Sun filed a public information request with the police.
The woman described the cul de sac as an affluent, quiet and friendly area of Chino Hills, where most people know each other but said McGuire was a "recluse" who came out mostly at night.
THERE MAY BE MORE VICTIMS
Originally, law enforcement believed this was an isolated incident because McGuire knew his alleged victim.
But on June 16, police updated their statement saying there "may be additional victims of criminal acts committed by McGuire," but didn't go into any more details.
"If you are a victim or have information about this case, you are urged to contact Detective Ryan Girard or Deputy Dan Renear at the Chino Hills Station, (909) 364-2000.
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"For victims outside of San Bernardino County, please contact your local law enforcement agency," the Chino Hills PD statement said.
As of 1pm Tuesday EST, no other victims have come forward, according to police.
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