Rape suspect arrested, extradited

NORWALK — A local man was arrested in Nashville, Tennessee on allegations of child rape. Donald Zeiters, 58, of Adams Street in Norwalk, faces one count of first-degree felony rape and one count of second-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor, according to a release from Norwalk police. The department began investigating Zeiters in 2025 after a victim claimed that he had sexually assaulted them when they were a child. A search warrant of an Adams Street home yielded electronic storage devices, which, when searched by Cleveland's Internet Crimes Against Children task force, allegedly yielded evidence related to a sexual assault, the release states. Zeiters has since been extradited to Ohio and is being held in the Huron County Jail. His case will be presented to a Huron County grand jury, and additional charges are possible. "I would like to recognize the exceptional work of Detective (Sgt. Scott) Hamernik, whose diligence and commitment were instrumental in bringing Mr. Zeiters into custody," Norwalk police Chief Scott Dahlgren said. "We also extend our sincere appreciation to the assisting agencies for their collaboration and support throughout this investigation. Special thanks are due to the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in apprehending Mr. Zeiters in Nashville, Tennessee, to facilitate his extradition back to Norwalk." His court docket in Norwalk Municipal Court does not list any upcoming court dates.