by Adam Behsudi, ABEHSUDI@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
published August 5, 2006 12:15 am
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ASHEVILLE — After arresting a third person Friday in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old woman in West Asheville, police found the suspect’s older brother dead.

The body of Earl William Dusseau, 25, was found shortly after 10 a.m. at the bottom of the open cut on Interstate 240, Asheville Police said.

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Just before 10 a.m. on August 4, a passerby called 911 to report a body on I-240. (682 KB)
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Joshua Michael Dusseau, 17, was arrested about 1 a.m. Friday and charged with kidnapping in connection with the West Asheville rape case, according to warrants.

But police said it doesn’t appear that the events are related. “We don’t think it is linked,” said Asheville police Sgt. Dave Romick. “We just think it is very strange circumstances.”

A statement from police said there’s no indication that Earl Dusseau was involved in the West Asheville rape his younger brother was charged in connection with on Thursday.

Romick said Earl Dusseau’s fatal fall is being looked at as an accident.

A motorist reported seeing him fall down the north side slope of I-240 where it cuts through Beaucatcher Mountain. His body was being transferred to Winston-Salem for an autopsy.

Earlier the same morning, Joshua Dusseau was arrested at his mother’s home on New Leicester Highway, police said. He is being held at the Buncombe County Detention Center in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Joshua Dusseau is the first local person to face charges in Thursday’s sexual assault. Police arrested Charlotte residents Pablo Vazquez Osorio and Marcos Guerrero-Fuentes shortly after arriving at the Red Roof Inn off Smoky Park Highway, where the assault was reported to have taken place outside.

Police said the woman asked to go home while out for a drive with the men, but they drove her to the motel, where they were staying instead.

Authorities charged Osorio with raping and kidnapping the woman, whom the men met through a mutual acquaintance, and Guerrero-Fuentes with kidnapping and aiding and abetting rape.

Contact Adam Behsudi at 828-232-5962 or via e-mail at abehsudi@ashevill.gannett.com.

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