Authorities in Palm Beach County, Florida, are urging women who may have encountered a local man through online dating platforms to come forward, as investigators suspect there could be additional victims beyond the one who has already reported an assault. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office issued the public appeal on July 14, five months after detectives first responded to a sexual battery investigation at a Florida hospital. The case has drawn renewed attention to the potential risks associated with dating apps, which have become a common way for people to meet but can also be exploited by perpetrators.
The suspect, Stephen Hakim, 27, of Delray Beach, was arrested on July 8 and charged with sexual assault. He was released the following day after posting a $25,000 bond. Hakim has pleaded not guilty to the charge. According to court documents, the alleged victim told deputies that she met Hakim on the dating app Hinge. After exchanging messages on the app for about an hour, the conversation moved to phone texts and video calls. The two agreed to meet later that day for what the woman described as a relaxed evening with no expectations.
The woman reported that Hakim picked her up in his car around 11 p.m., saying they would go to a bar. Instead, she told deputies, he drove her to his apartment. She recalled riding in his black Tesla as he drove at speeds of 90 to 100 miles per hour. The apartment, she said, was very clean, with minimal furniture, no television, and no pets. During the evening, the two drank four beers and talked about work. Hakim then offered to give her a massage, at which point she said she became extremely tired and unable to get up before being assaulted. Afterward, she told Hakim he had raped her, but she said he responded with what she described as gaslighting behavior, questioning her account.
Detectives later matched Hakim's DNA to specimens found on the victim, according to court documents. Toxicology testing also detected multiple sleeping drugs in samples of the woman's blood and urine, substances she told deputies she did not take. Hakim's attorney has issued a statement denying that his client's actions were unconsented, though the firm did not respond to requests for further comment. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit is now asking for the public's help in identifying anyone else who may have had encounters with Hakim through online dating platforms.
The case highlights broader concerns about safety on dating apps. A 2023 Pew Research report found that about 53 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 have used a dating app, and the industry has transformed how many people find potential partners. Megan Cutter, chief of victim services for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), which operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, noted that while dating apps are not inherently dangerous and many relationships that begin on them are healthy, perpetrators can misuse these platforms to further criminal behavior. She pointed out that only about one in three victims report sexual assault to law enforcement, often because abusers threaten to harm them or their families.
According to RAINN, one in six women in the United States has experienced attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, with women ages 18 to 24 at the highest risk. Cutter advised users to be cautious when using dating apps, warning that profiles with few details, no links to social media, or that are not fully built out should raise concern. She also cautioned against matches who quickly try to move conversations off the app, as obtaining a phone number or email can allow perpetrators to find personal information or a person's location. Additionally, she recommended using different photos on dating profiles than on personal social media to prevent reverse image searches from linking to other online accounts. Removing metadata from posted photos can also reduce the risk of sharing location or date information.
Despite these risks, Cutter emphasized that online dating is widely used and can lead to positive outcomes. She said the danger arises when individuals misuse the tool to harm others. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate and is asking anyone with information about Hakim or potential additional victims to contact the Special Victims Unit.
