Survivor reacts to 'Tower District Rapist' Rudolph Martin Acosta being denied parole

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- More than 30 years ago, Rudolph Acosta terrorized the Tower District, assaulting at least nine women and teens in 1991.

In the years since, he's been known as the Tower District Rapist.

Since his conviction, he's been eligible for parole twice, reopening the wounds of those he attacked.

"I thought I was going to get a break, every part of me desires to get a break from this, but I feel like I carry a lot of responsibility and weight," said assault survivor Mirna Garcia

"It's just the amount of trauma and pain I endured, I can't."

Garcia was just 16 when Acosta sexually assaulted her.

She's fought to keep him in prison.

His 2019 and 2025 parole requests were each denied -- but Garcia isn't celebrating.

"I'm just hurting. There's just a lot of pain. Having to relive it over and over again is exhausting," said Garcia.

"So, it doesn't feel like a victory to me because I feel like I'm still not done, like, there's still a lot of work to be done."

RELATED: Survivors call for 'Tower Rapist' to stay in prison ahead of parole hearing

Acosta was sentenced to 78 years in prison back in 1992, but hasn't even served half of that term.

Because he was 25 at the time of the crimes, he's considered a youthful offender, giving him the chance of release.

"It's difficult to imagine him getting released at some point because of this youthful offender bill or the elderly bill, because that chance is going to be taken at the possibility of another person enduring what we have," said Garcia.

Garica isn't fighting alone. She has an army alongside her.

"We're going to take a little sigh of relief, celebrate that we were able to work in solidarity, collect all of our voices together, and fight to keep him behind bars, but work continues," said Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea.

"Mirna again told me about the hearing, this is when it arose, she told me about the potential of looking at changing law and how we can improve the lives of survivors by making the process different so that they don't have to relive these horrific incidents every few years," said Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria.

No matter how hard the fight gets, Garcia says she will keep showing up.

"A part of me wanted to stop, I want to pretend it never happened, I want to live my life, but I know just the way I'm wired, I guess I wouldn't be able to rest if he got out," said Garcia.

Acosta's parole was denied for seven years, but the DA's office says he can start reapplying in about three years.

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