Last Updated on October 30, 2022
The suspect in the alleged attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul was previously in a relationship with Gypsy Taub, a pro-public nudity activist who once tried to kidnap a 14-year-old boy. Neighbors would frequently complain that Taub and David DePape leave sex dolls laying on the back porch, some of which were used by children living with the duo.
According to a 2013 report from the San Francisco Chronicle, DePape participated in a nudist wedding with Oxane “Gypsy” Taub. The two were not being wed at the time, though DePape and Taub did have some sort of relationship in which they lived together for a number of years.
State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) recalled DePape’s name from a series of pro-nudity demonstrations from 2012-13. Wiener previously served as a city council member in San Francisco’s Castro section, and recalled the two names from a number of pro-nudity demonstrations, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Ryan La Coste, one of Taub and DePape’s neighbors, said that the pair would often disturb neighbors with frequent public nudity around minors and other odd behavior. ‘Before Gypsy got locked up, there were sex dolls drying on the back of their porch that I’m assuming she bought for her sons,’ La Coste said, according to a SubStack article from Michael Shellenberger.
Another neighbor named “Tish” told Shellenberger that the couple would buy pills and psychedelic drugs from Mexico and use them to “treat” people’s mental illnesses. The neighbor reported that the couple could be heard screaming at all hours of the night on drug trips that lasted up to three days.
Paul Pelosi attack: Suspect David DePape identified in nudist Gypsy Taub wedding — here's photos
Read more: https://t.co/6NWyHyG1h7 pic.twitter.com/8vY49UHqer
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) October 28, 2022
Following the attack on Paul Pelosi, DePape, 42, is being accused of sexually assaulting his three children when they were kids.
If charged and convicted, DePape would join his ex-lover, Gypsy Taub, who was previously convicted of attempting to kidnap a child. Police said Taub had an “obsession” with children and would often discuss inappropriate things with them, including that it would be ok to “date” her.
In 2019, police said Taub continued inappropriate behavior with a former friend of her son despite the boy’s family placing a restraining order on her. Law enforcement said Taub would write letters to the boy about how it would be legal to date in other states. At one point, Taub drove by the child’s home in order “profess her love and desire” to be with him.
Taub later had a package delivered to the boy by her son, which included a sinister letter asking the boy to meet her somewhere without his phone. “This is our last chance to help you,” the letter read. “Leave your bag and your regular cell phone in the locker.”
Police showed up at the time and place of the meeting requested by Taub and arrested her. She was wearing a “disguise” upon her arrest. Taub was ultimately found guilty on 20 counts last year, including the attempted abduction of a 14-year-old boy.
After DePape’s arrest, “Gypsy” Taub has discussed her relationship with the alleged attacker with a number of local news outlets. The pro-nudity activist told ABC7 News that she and DePape met more than 20 years ago. Together they raised their two sons and her daughter until about seven years ago.
“He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him,” Taub said. “And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal.”
DePape is currently facing a number of charges in connection with the attack, including attempted murder.