Police searching
for rape suspect

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

Pennypack Park can be a very busy place around dusk on a summer Saturday. But that apparently didn’t deter an unknown man from raping a woman in the woods there on Aug. 11.
Philadelphia police are looking for anyone who may have seen the suspect described that night by the victim in the case.
The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. when the woman was walking on a paved path leading along the creek from the intersection of Frankford and Solly avenues toward Welsh Road, said Capt. John Darby of the special victims unit.
The 29-year-old victim told investigators that she walked for about 10 minutes on the path, then turned around and began to retrace her steps.
Moments later, a man grabbed her from behind, Darby said, put her in a choke hold and dragged her off the path and into a more secluded wooded area away from the creek. Police theorize that the attacker figured that others might see him if he remained near the water.
The man threatened the woman’s life and sexually assaulted her, Darby said. Then he fled westbound, in the opposite direction from the Frankford and Solly entrance, with a small amount of money that he stole from the woman.
"The offender spent some time with the victim. This was not an ‘attack and run,’" Darby said.
The victim found her way out of the park and contacted police with the help of another woman near the Frankford and Solly entrance. She was hospitalized for injuries related to the sex assault and choking, then released from the medical facility.
Investigators suspect it was more of a crime of opportunity than a planned attack on a specific victim.
"It would appear there was an opportunity that arose, and this male took it," Darby said.
The crime was unique for the area.
"Up here, we don’t have anything else like this on our radar screen now, nothing of this nature," Darby said.
The victim described the attacker as Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 175 to 200 pounds.
He has a dark complexion and a muscular build. He had a short haircut, short goatee, sideburns, light mustache and bushy eyebrows.
He wore a light blue basketball jersey, white shorts and a gold chain. He spoke with a heavy Spanish accent.
Investigators will try to develop a DNA sample for the suspect and compare it to other catalogued DNA samples for a possible match.
Darby advises all people to heed personal safety advice when using the park.
"When you walk in the park, try to stay to the daylight hours and the well-lit areas," he said. "Use the buddy system. Have a cell phone ready to dial 911."
Police are hoping that park visitors will recognize the description or a composite sketch of the suspect. Call 215-685-3263 or 3264 to report information about the case. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com