A man accused of sexually assaulting a college student in Pennsylvania in 2013, and later admitting to the crime in a chilling Facebook message, has been extradited to the U.S. after a years-long international search.
Ian Cleary, 31, of Saratoga, Calif., was flown back to the U.S. on January 16 from France, where he had been hiding since his alleged crime.
Cleary faces charges of sexual assault after he allegedly attacked Shannon Keeler, a fellow Gettysburg College student, during a party in December 2013.
Cleary, then 20 years old, is accused of stalking Keeler and entering her dorm room, where the assault took place. Despite Keeler’s attempts to report the incident and provide evidence, including a rape kit and witness testimony, no charges were filed at the time.
Years later, in 2021, Keeler received a Facebook message from Cleary in which he allegedly confessed to the assault, writing, “So I raped you.”

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This message prompted authorities to issue a felony arrest warrant for Cleary. His arrest in Metz, France in April 2024 was the result of a coordinated effort by U.S. Marshals and French authorities. Cleary had been on the run for three years before his capture.
Keeler, who had been advocating for justice since the incident, expressed her emotional response to the arrest.
“While I am moved to tears by this result, which I have waited for over seven years, I am mindful that this moment came because I went public with my story, which no survivor should have to do in order to obtain justice,” she said.
Cleary’s extradition marks a significant step toward accountability for his actions, and the case highlights the challenges and frustrations many survivors face when seeking justice for sexual assault, especially on college campuses.