College Park On Alert After Man Accused Of Groping Female Students
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ)—A predator in College Park. That's the concern from police after three young women say they each woke up in the middle of the night to find a strange man in their bedroom, touching their bodies. Police have been looking for that suspect for more than a week.
Derek Valcourt has the latest from investigators and reaction from the college campus.
A lot of female students are sleeping with one eye open after hearing the story that is the talk of this college town.
At the University of Maryland, it's front page news. Almost everyone's heard about the man who broke into the bedrooms of three separate women, and then groped and fondled them while the slept.
"It's really creepy. It's like the boogeyman but in real life," said Ceire Kenny, student.
It's talked about so much that students have a nickname for the criminal: "The College Park Cuddler"
"The Cuddler" is a nickname police won't cozy up to.
"I don't agree with that name at all. I cuddle with my children. I cuddle with my wife. This guy is a predator. He is disgusting. We need to catch him," said Capt Marc Limansky, University of Maryland Police.
But so far he hasn't been caught.
In fact, after detectives released a security camera video of man running from the area of one of the incidents, two other women came forward saying they too were groped in their own bedrooms that same night, same general area, similar suspect descriptions.
"I think it's disgusting. I don't know how this happens," said Sabrina Tang, student.
"My roommates and I never used to deadbolt our door or lock our bedroom door and now we do," said Kathryn Heligman, student.
"You never think it could happen to you, but in the back of your mind you're always conscious that you make sure you're OK," said Alice Ruling, student.
The unsolved attacks are now forcing many young women here to do what police have been asking--be on guard.
Police say in each of the cases, there were no signs of forced entry into the victim's homes. That's why they are reminding students here to lock their doors and windows at night.
Campus Police are also encouraging women to call police immediately if they notice anything suspicious near their apartments or homes.
