Sep 21, 2007 10:41 pm US/Eastern
Police Link Pennypack Park, Fairmount Park Attacks
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Philadelphia police released a sketch of a man wanted in connection to 2003 attacks in Fairmount Park and a 2007 attack in Pennypack Park.
CBS
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This is a recent sketch of the suspect wanted in connection to an attack in Pennypack Park in August and several attacks in 2003.
CBS
Philadelphia Police have linked a sexual assault in Pennypack Park in August to a rape and murder suspect from attacks in 2003 in Fairmount Park.
During a news conference Thursday afternoon, police said DNA linked the attacks to the same suspect.
"The evidence that was processed matched three other rapes and one murder that occurred in 2003," Chief Insp. Keith Sadler said.
Police initially released a sketch of a suspect wanted in connection to the August 11 assault of a woman in Northeast Philadelphia. In that attack, police said the suspect grabbed a 29-year-old woman who was walking through Pennypack Park near Frankford and Solly Avenues.
The victim told police the suspect dragged her into a wooded area by her neck where she was sexually assaulted and robbed.
Police said the victim described the suspect as a Hispanic male between 20-25 years-old, approximately 5'5" with a muscular build. He was apparently wearing a sky blue basketball jersey, white shorts and a gold chain and had a small goatee and bushy eyebrows.
"This is a very sick individual and I honestly don't have an exact answer why there is a gap in time" Sadler said.
Police linked this same suspect to three attacks from 2003. The first attack in '03 occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. On April 30, a 21-year-old woman was attacked on Kelly and Fountain Green Drives. On July 13, at about 5 p.m., 31-year-old medical student Rebecca Park was raped and murdered in the 3500 block of Conshohocken Road. On October 25 at 6:15 p.m., the same suspect attacked a 37-year-old woman on West River Drive, attempting to rape her.
Investigators theorized that the so-called Fairmount Park rapist may have been hiding out in Puerto Rico for the past few years.
One of his victims "Lisa" wants the public to be vigilant and know that the suspect is still at-large.
"It seems like when the public doesn't hear anything, they just think he's gone, it's resolved," Lisa said.
Sources said investigators are looking into another recent attack to see if the same suspect is connected.
A reward in excess of $25,000 is being offered in this case.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Philadelphia Police.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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