Investigation Continues Into Recent Sexual Assault Cases
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Authorities in Ross Township remain on high alert today as the investigation continues into a series of recent sexual assaults.
KDKA's Heather Abraham reports that Ross Township police said that they brought someone in for questioning this morning that may have knowledge of the assaults. The person reportedly fit the description of the suspect previously released by police.
However, that person has since been released, and so far no arrests have been made in the case.
For days now, the surveillance video of a blue Ford Expedition XLT was the strongest evidence Ross Township police were working with in the case of two sexual assaults.
But now, Dr. Karl Williams, the chief medical examiner for Allegheny County, is making evidence recovered from the crime scenes a priority in the lab.
"It needs to be done properly by thorough scientific evaluation of the cases and when it works, there's nothing like it," said Dr. Williams.
Ross Township police say the similarities between the two attacks are overwhelming.
But DNA evidence could be what police need to connect the cases and possibly track down the man behind the assaults.
"If we're all lucky, us working with the Ross police, we could well have an identification by the end of next week," Dr. Williams added.
On Saturday morning, police say a woman at the Woodhawk Club apartments was approached by an armed man who forced her back into her apartment, sexually assaulted and robbed her.
Then, on Monday morning, investigators say a woman walking her dog at the Cascades returned to her apartment to find a man inside armed with a gun. Police say she was also sexually assaulted and robbed.
Police say they have received numerous tips and several good leads.
"If we know that there is an offender out there actively engaging in criminal activity, in this case rape, it's to everyone's best interest to see if we can prioritize that case and see if we can make an identification," Dr. Williams said.
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Link:Ross Township Police Department
Link:Allegheny Medical Examiner's Office
Link:More News from Ross Township
