Trial begins for man accused of a Wheeling rape

Opening statements begin Tuesday in the trial of a Chicago man who authorities say raped a woman in May 2010 at the Wheeling condominium where she was staying.

Matthew Schaffer, 33, has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion and armed robbery, among other charges.

Prosecutors say Schaffer wore white rubber gloves and a mask made of women's pantyhose when he entered the bedroom where the woman was sleeping. He grabbed her by her throat, brandished a gun and a knife and threatened to kill her if she screamed, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors accuse Schaffer of assaulting the woman and saying, “Why shouldn't I kill you? I killed my other victims.” He then fled with some of the woman's jewelry, which police say he pawned at a Chicago shop, prosecutors said. Police recovered the victim's watch. From the pawnshop receipt, they obtained Schaffer's name and passport number and the Highland Park address where he was reportedly living.

Police went to the Highland Park home where they recovered an open package of women's pantyhose from the defendant's bedroom, white gloves from a garbage can outside the house and a replica .380 handgun from the defendant's car, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors say as Schaffer was being processed, he said, “I should have killed that girl.”

If convicted Schaffer could face between six and 30 years in prison.