SAN DIEGO -- Authorities asked the public Thursday for help in finding a fugitive accused of taking part in a Redwood Village-area home invasion during which a woman was raped and, along with four others, tied up, doused with lighter fluid and threatened with being burned alive.

Tommy Nguyen, 32, is suspected of committing the brutal robbery-assaults a year ago, along with a man and woman who were arrested while trying to flee the scene of the crimes.

The crime -- which will be profiled on the television show "America's Most Wanted" on Saturday evening -- began shortly before midnight last Oct. 17, when Nguyen and Kevin Keith Sellers, then 29, allegedly entered a house in the 5900 block of Hughes Street.

The intruders confronted three men, threatened them with a gun, bound them, covered their heads with sheets, sprayed them with lighter fluid and threatened to kill them unless they turned over $20,000, according to San Diego police.

They then ransacked the residence, stealing jewelry, cell phones, cash, laptop computers and even one of the victims' eyeglasses. At some point, Vanna Chheun, also 29, entered and stood guard while sipping wine coolers, prosecutors allege.

During the burglary, a husband and wife arrived at the home, and the thieves tied them up, as well. The woman, whose wrists were bound together behind her back, was then dragged into a bedroom, where Nguyen and Sellers allegedly raped her.

Following the sex assault, the intruders brought the other victims into the bedroom, doused all five of the captives with more lighter fluid and threatened to set fire to them, according to investigators.

The ordeal ended after the female victim managed to dial 911. When police arrived, the burglars fled, but Chheun was arrested as she left the house, and Sellers was captured as he tried to scale a back yard fence. The third assailant managed to escape.

Chheun and Sellers are scheduled to stand trial next month on dozens of criminal charges, including robbery, forcible rape and rape in concert. Each faces a prison sentence of up to 150 years if convicted of all the allegations.

Nguyen, who is suspected of committing similar crimes in Orange and Riverside counties, is a 5-foot-2-inch, roughly 120-pound Vietnamese man with brown eyes. He has been known to shave his head.

The suspect, who has also gone by the first name Trieu, has worked construction jobs as a framer. In addition to English, he speaks fluent Spanish and Vietnamese.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, according to police. San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Nguyen's arrest. The nonprofit agency's tip line can be reached at (888) 580-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.