John Vernon Gray, 22, of Telford (Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney)
On Thursday, a bail hearing was held before Court of Common Pleas Judge Risa Vetri Ferman who upheld the denial of bail for John Vernon Gray
Montgomery County detectives and Towamencin Township Police said they have tied the man accused of raping a 95-year-old woman at Dock Woods last spring to four burglaries involving women at the senior living community and at Morgandale.
John Vernon Gray, 22, of the 300 block of South Main Street, Telford Borough, was charged this week with felony counts of rape, criminal attempted rape, sexual assault, criminal attempted sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, and criminal trespassing, and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault without consent, indecent assault by threat of forcible compulsion, and loitering and prowling at night, according to court records.
Gray, authorities said, was the suspect in four nighttime burglaries that involved residents aged 46 to 95, who either lived alone or were presumed by Gray to live alone.
The first one, investigators said, occurred on May 10, 2025, at about 2:25 a.m., when a 79-year-old woman awoke to a man coming into her house on Dock Drive through her bedroom window.
She screamed and scared him off, police said. About an hour later that same night, a second burglary occurred nearby when a male entered the home in the Dock Woods community and sexually assaulted the homeowner, a woman in her 90s, police said.
The victim reported the incident to police four days later. She told police she woke up at 3 a.m. to a man standing inside her bedroom of her Dock Drive home, who detectives alleged was Gray.
He allegedly told the victim she was beautiful, he wanted her, and told her he watched her at the cafeteria. During the rape incident, Gray allegedly told the victim he lived in Blue Bell at a group home and begged her not to tell anyone of the encounter.
Eventually, Gray left out the unlocked front door after about an hour, police said.
Later in the morning, Gray was involved in a mental health incident at Morgandale, per the complaint.
Through DNA records, investigators said they tied Gray to DNA found on the victim.
On Nov. 8, 2025, two additional burglaries occurred.
Police responded at about 3 a.m. that day to a residence on Dock Drive where a 72-year-old woman reported being awakened by a man in her bedroom, according to investigators.
He attempted to lift her nightgown but fled when the woman screamed, police said.
Then, 30 minutes later, a male intruder entered a residence on Crosshill Court in the Morgandale development in Towamencin through a rear sliding glass door, entered the bedroom and began touching a 46-year-old woman, police said. He fled when she screamed for her husband, police said.
If anyone thinks they might have been a victim of this defendant, please contact Montgomery County Detectives at 610-278-3385.
Gray was arrested on Saturday, and was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Todd Stephens, who denied bail due to the threat to the public and nature of the charges.
Gray was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. On Thursday, a bail hearing was held before Court of Common Pleas Judge Risa Vetri Ferman who upheld the denial of bail for Gray.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m., Feb. 2, before Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine.
If anyone thinks they might have been a victim of this defendant, please contact Montgomery County Detectives at 610-278-3385.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
