LIVINGSTON — An alleged serial rapist is facing new charges in Livingston Parish after another victim came forward about an alleged sexual assault. Now, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s deputies say there could be additional victims.
David Blake Coutee, 38, of Walker, was arrested on June 25 on multiple charges of sexual assault after allegedly torturing and raping a Baton Rouge woman for 13 hours. In that case, Coutee is accused of repeatedly raping the woman between June 11 and 12, 2024. The details outlined in the case are graphic, but they were added at the request of the alleged victim.
Two days after Coutee’s arrest, another victim came forward, this time in Livingston Parish. Coutee is accused of sexually abusing a different victim just five days later, on June 17 and June 19, 2024, at a home in Walker.
UWK has learned that in the most recent incident, Coutee had known the victim for nearly 20 years, and they reconnected over Facebook Messenger. They met on June 15 for what was initially consensual sex. On June 17, they decided to meet again, but this time, the victim told deputies that Coutee allegedly choked her with his hands while forcing himself upon her orally. The victim said she could not leave the home because she did not have her own vehicle, and two days later, Coutee allegedly choked her with a belt while again forcing himself upon her orally. The victim added that as she pulled on him to release the belt, he tightened it instead
On June 27, 2024, the victim reported the alleged incidents to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Coutee is now charged with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of aggravated battery.
“It is believed that there are more victims who have been reluctant to come forward,” said Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard.
UWK spoke to the survivor in the Baton Rouge case as she recounted one of the worst days of her life, “I’m lucky to be alive.”
UWK does not name victims of sex crimes. The survivor in the Baton Rouge case chose to speak up about her heinous rape in hopes that other victims will come forward and that Coutee will never be able to get out from behind bars.
“If he gets out again, he will probably do it again because he’s very charming. He seems very normal. He did not come off as a rapist or a guy who was abusive towards women. He came off very loving and very sweet. And then he flipped a switch so if he gets out again, he will kill the next person. He threatened to kill me so what’s that tell you?”
Coutee remains behind bars without bond due to his hold from probation and parole. The charge from the Baton Rouge incident is first-degree rape. If convicted, that charge carries a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole or probation.
UWK found numerous arrests dating back to 2009 involving David Coutee, with the majority of the crimes occurring in Livingston Parish and others in Tangipahoa Parish and New Roads. The charges include simple damage to property, simple assault, simple burglary, simple battery, resisting an officer, and multiple traffic violations. However, Coutee pleaded “no contest” in two previous arrests—both for domestic abuse battery by strangulation, one in 2018 and another in connection to a 2021 incident.
READ COUTEE’S CRIMINAL HISTORY
Officials urge anyone who has been a victim of David Coutee in any parish to come forward by calling your local police or sheriff’s office or calling Crime Stoppers at 225-344-STOP
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