Police: Serial Rapist Attacked 4 Girls In Germantown
By Walt Hunter, Steve Beck, Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police are searching for a serial rapist who has attacked four young girls in the streets of Germantown since March.
The most recent happened early Sunday morning in the 1100 block of East Chelten Avenue. In that attack, a female was dragged into a city recreation center where she was raped by the suspect.
During a press conference Monday, police said that in each attack, the suspect has targeted victims who were walking in the area of Chelten Avenue. He grabbed his victims at gunpoint on the street or sidewalk and forced them into a secluded area, where he raped them.
The victims range in age from 12 to 17 years old.
The first attack happened in the 1100 block of E. Price Street in March. The second happened in the 900 block of East Chelten Avenue in April, and the third took place in the 6000 block of Wister Street on May 19th.
The suspect is described as a light-complected black male in his late 20s or early 30s. He's between 5'7"-6'1" with a medium to stocky build.
Investigators say the suspect has kept his face covered in each incident, whether by pulling a hoodie tight around his head or by wearing a mask.
A dark-colored mountain bike was also involved in at least one of the incidents.
In surveillance video, the suspect can be seen casually walking away from the scene after one of the rapes.
"He knows what he's going to do," says Captain John Darby, commanding officer of Special Victims Unit.
Anyone with information is urged to call 911.