Oct 9, 2008 5:27 pm US/Central
Woman Assaulted In Hyde Park-Kenwood Building
Police: Victim Slipped In Door, Dragged Woman Through Lobby And Sexually Assaulted Her
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Police are investigating after a man with a knife forced his way into a woman's apartment and sexually assaulted her in an area that is to numerous University of Chicago students.
The woman was talking to her boyfriend on a cell phone as she entered her apartment in the 1300 block of East Hyde Park Boulevard (51st Street) around 10 p.m., when a man slipped in the door behind her and attacked her in the lobby, a police source said. The man said he had a knife and allegedly told the woman he was going to kill her, but never showed the weapon.
Police Thursday evening released a surveillance image of the suspect who is described as 30-35 years old, about 180 pounds and between 5'6" and 5'8". He had not been apprehended as of Thursday evening, the source said. Police do not believe he lived in the building.
The attacker walked the woman through the building, past the security desk and an on-duty security guard, and out the back door, according to a source, who said the security guard believed the woman and the attacker were together.
The man then dragged the woman into the first-floor garbage room and sexually assaulted her.
The attacker fled the scene with the woman's purse, keys and driver's license. After the attack, the security guard found out what happened.
The woman was taken to University of Chicago Hospitals, the source said.
Hyde Park Boulevard is traditionally the dividing line between Hyde Park, the neighborhood that is home to the University of Chicago, and South Kenwood, an enclave of fashionable single-family houses that is home to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Obama's house has a tight security perimeter patrolled by Chicago Police and U.S. Secret Service agents, even when Obama is not in town.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker spoke to the victim's mother, who was in tears Thursday afternoon. She said her daughter was physically OK, but very upset.
Building resident Molly McAdow said the University of Chicago sent out an e-mail detailing the crime.
"I'm pretty terrified," she said. "He insisted I never come back by myself anymore."
"It kind of makes me a little more weary of living in Hyde Park. I didn't think that could happen here," Katrina McPheters said.
"I figured because it's more protection around here because Obama's around. You didn't think anyone would do anything like this," said neighborhood resident Jeanette Johnson.
"I'll definitely be more cautious about going into places at night, being by myself," said University of Chicago student Monica Mays.
Wentworth Area Chicago Police detectives are investigating the attack as an aggravated criminal sexual assault.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Dorothy Tucker and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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