Tuesday, July 25, 2000
Rapist's pattern leads to alert about anniversary of attacks
By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — Police and residents in Warren and Hamilton counties are on alert today, the anniversary of two of four documented attacks by a rapist.
Mason police aren't saying much about their plans. On past anniversaries, they increased patrols and canvassed the neighborhood where the first three rapes occurred, warning residents.
The timing of the rapist's attacks — April 13, 1998; April 14, 1999; and July 25 in both of those years — make investigators wonder whether those dates hold some significance for the rapist.
But the date of the latest attack — in Colerain Township last Oct. 4 — and the fact that no attacks took place in April of this year, deviates from the pattern.
“Certainly, everybody knows this is the anniversary, but we're really not saying a lot about what our enforcement plans are,” said Mason Lt. Steve Schuchart. “I think by doing that at a certain point it kind of circumvents what we hope to accomplish.”
Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen warned Cincinnati-area residents to be alert, lock all doors and windows, turn on lights and report any suspicious activity immediately.
“People should make sure that they are very aware of their surroundings,” Mr. Allen said.
“I know that police patrols in these areas have been beefed up recently, but people should still take care to lock their doors and windows and use alarm systems if they have them,” he said.
A task force of federal, state and local police and prosecutors has been unable to identify the red-haired, blue-eyed rapist who attacked four children and a 27-year-old woman in Mason, Montgomery and Colerain Township.
But Mr. Allen said the multiagency unit is closer today to nabbing the rapist than it was a year ago.
“The task force's investigation is ongoing. and there are some promising leads,” Mr. Allen said. “It's not a matter of if we will catch this person, but when.”
Authorities say the masked man breaks into the houses through an unlocked window or door, and usually attacks victims as they sleep.
He has carried some of his victims outside to commit the rapes, police said.
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