Crime & Safety

New Billboards Target East Coast Rapist

Authorities are searching for man accused of raping at least 17 women, one of whom was attacked near Franconia

Authorities have set up a website to help catch the East Coast Rapist, a man accused of assaulting at least one woman near Franconia, three near the Hybla Valley area, and 12 others.

The website, which launched this Monday, has information on all the attacks, most of which occurred in the late '90's and early 2000's in Fairfax County, Prince George’s County, Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Authorities linked the same man to all the attacks through DNA.

Law enforcement officials are also placing billboards up and down the East Coast with the suspect's information.

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“These billboards give local police departments and the FBI an added edge to identify, locate, and apprehend the subject,” said Ronald Hosko, Federal Bureau of Investigations special agent in charge of the Criminal Division in the Washington Field Office, said in an FBI press release. “The public is the most important tool law enforcement has for solving crimes like this.”

On Nov. 20, 2000, a 35-year-old woman was approached by a man asking for directions at the entrance to her townhouse community at Timber Forest Drive and Edsall Road. When he got close enough, he put her in a headlock and attempted to rob her. The woman was a female military officer and was able to fight back and take away the man’s knife. He ran away, but police were able to obtain DNA from the knife blade and link this case to others.

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Other incidents occurred near Hybla Valley:

The first incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on December 28, 2001 on the 3700 block of Rolling Hills Avenue. A 29-year-old woman waiting for a bus was approached by a man who was smoking a cigarette. He asked her when the next bus was coming, then threatened her with a knife and forced her behind an electrical box at a nearby apartment complex, where he raped her. The victim said that the man threatened to “come for her” if she became pregnant.

On Jan. 13, 2000, an 18-year-old woman was walking home from a community center at about 7:30 p.m. on the 7300 block of Fordson Road when she was approached from behind. The man put a knife to her throat and asked for money. He then forced her to a wooded area and raped her.

It was June 19, 1999 at just after 11 p.m. when 19-year-old a woman walking down Richmond Highway near Memorial Street passed by a man in a phone booth. After passing him by, the man put the woman in a headlock and threatened her with a knife. He forced her to the back steps of a realty office and raped her.

“We have the DNA linking the offender, but we need someone to recognize and identify him,” John Kelly, a detective with the Fairfax County Police Department, said in a press release.

Authorities are urging anyone who knows information to call the authorities at Call 1-866-411-TIPS or contact Fairfax County Crime Solvers.

Description of the rapist from the 1997 attacks:

  • Black male.
  • Early to mid 20s
  • May have a chipped or missing tooth.
  • Between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10 about 150 pounds

Description from 1998-2000 attacks:

  • Black male.
  • In his 20s
  • 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9 tall and 150 to 200 pounds
  • Wears black clothing, ski hat, possibly a gold necklace

Description from 2001 attacks:

  • Black male.
  • Mid 20s
  • Approx. 6-feet tall, 185 to 210 pounds
  • Wore black mask, red shirt, black pants

Description from 2006-2008

  • Black male.
  • Wore leather and/or latex gloves
  • Smells of cigarettes
  • Wears cologne
  • Wore North face jacket

Description from the 2009 attack:

  • Black male.
  • In his 40s
  • Wore a black mask
  • Spoke through clenched teeth


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