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Melbourne Mother Of 5 Fears 'Hyde Park Rapist'

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2008

Christie Telebrico is scared.

She's scared for herself. She's scared for her neighbors. But mostly, she's scared for her daughters – all five of them.

"I can see where he lives from my back window," Telebrico said this afternoon.

Thursday morning, a man once known as the "Hyde Park rapist" walked out of a Tampa courtroom a free man. Over three years in the 1980s, Helms would later say, he raped 12 women and attempted to rape four more. The youngest of his victims was 15.

In an agreement with prosecutors, approved by a judge on Thursday, Helms said he would move across the state to Melbourne, where he hoped to start a new life away from the area where he caused so much misery.

But it's hard for the infamous to relocate quietly.

Telebrico, who lives in Melbourne, said she has seen news reports about Helms' arrival. As a past rape victim, Telebrico said she is all too aware that the recidivism rate is high for convicted rapists.
Typically, The Tampa Tribune does not identify rape victims. Telebrico, who said she was raped at age 16, gave permission to print her name and story.

"When you're trying to advocate," she said. "You have to tell people."

Helms served 13 years in prison, then was committed under the state's Jimmy Ryce Act as a potential re-offender. He has spent much of the past eight years confined to a facility for secured treatment.

Recently, two psychiatrists evaluated Helms and determined, now, he is unlikely to re-offend. While released, Helms must take regular lie detector tests and continue out-patient treatment. Helms told the judge Thursday that he wants to live a quiet and healthy life.

Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters said authorities and defense attorneys presented 15 addresses to the Florida Department of Corrections before the department agreed to a neighborhood where he could live.

Still, Peters said, she understands Telebrico's fears.

"She has a legitimate concern but the fact remains that we have to follow the law," Peters said. "He has finished his criminal sentence whether we agree with it or not."

Often, Peters said, people are safer from someone like Helms than from neighbors they do not know. People are aware of Helms' background and his presence and can use caution.

"My recommendation, not just with Bobby Joe Helms but with anybody, is to always be vigilant and know who your neighbors are," Peters said.

Telebrico said she has seen increased police presence in the area and she knows authorities will try to keep a close eye on Helms.

"I don't care," she said, adding that she plans to move as soon as possible. "The safety of my kids comes first. That is too big a risk to take when you have children."

Today and Saturday, Telebrico said, she will drive around the neighborhood putting fliers in mailboxes. She said she wants everyone to know who has moved nearby.

"We're going to make our neighborhood really aware of it," she said.

Two years ago, Telebrico said, she moved to the freshly built housing development in Brevard County called The Preserves. At the time, Telebrico said, a tree-filled buffer separated The Preserves from the Booker T. Washington neighborhood – an area known for high crime rates.

Recently, Habitat for Humanity has mowed down the tree buffer to build starter homes. The agency, however, is having a hard time finding takers. Booker T. Washington's reputation for crime has put off many prospective homeowners, Telebrico said.

Over the past few days, news reports alerted her that Helms will move into an apartment complex that she can see from her home. Helms has said he has family there.

Telebrico said her five daughters amount to an unsafe temptation on someone with Helms' past. Their ages are 17, 15, 14, 10, and 1.

With the housing market slump, Telebrico said she expects she will lose money if she sells her home. She said she doesn't feel she has a choice.

"It's just too hard," she said.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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