Jun 25, 2007 4:31 pm US/Central
'Foot Fetish' Copy Cat Strikes Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
Police are searching for two suspects in connection to a series of attacks on woman in which their toes are fondled, sources have said.
The sources have told CBS Philadelphia that DNA tests now reveal not just one, but two separate predators are targeting women.
Beginning last November through January, seven women were victimized by an attacker who sexually assaulted the women and fondled their toes.
In the latest attack, a woman in her 20s was walking in the 1700 block of Panama Street at about 2:45 a.m. when she was attacked by an unknown male armed with a knife on June 8.
Police said the victim was beaten, raped and robbed before the suspect sucked on her toes.
Sources have said that this 8th attack was committed by a different suspect.
"It's pretty disturbing that there's one person but a copy cat of somebody that disturbed is equally disturbing," neighbor Blair Halpin said.
Now police are trying to figure out if it was a copy cat who was trying to throw police off-track by making it a fear that the crime was committed by the 'toe fetish' attacker.
Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit confirmed that the DNA findings are in but the final report will not be available until Tuesday.
Anyone with information on these attacks is urged to contact Philadelphia Police.
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