PRESS RELEASE:
Kansas City Police are investigating two weekend rapes that could be the work of a serial rapist.
At 9:50 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, a man broke into a home in the 8300 block of Mercier Street and sexually assaulted the 53-year-old female resident when she returned home from work. Less than three hours later, at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, a man forced his way into the home of a 50-year-old woman in the 10 block of East Porte Cimi Pas when she let her dogs out. He sexually assaulted her and stole her jewelry.
Police believe the same man is responsible for both rapes. They also think the rapist could be the same man who broke into homes and sexually assaulted two women in the Waldo area last fall. Those incidents took place Sept. 29, 2009, in the 7500 block of Summit and on Oct. 11, 2009, in the 100 block of East 78th Terrace.
In the incidents last fall, the victims could only say that they thought the suspect was black, that he had a deep, smooth voice, and one said he smelled like smoke. The man told one of the recent victims that he was 27 years old, but police believe he may be older. He is described as black, 6 feet tall and about 250 pounds. He is bald with pitted cheeks, possibly from acne scars. One victim said the suspect had very bad breath and that his clothes smelled like exhaust fumes.
Police urge anyone with information about the suspect to come forward and contact detectives or call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. Officers will increase patrols in the affected neighborhoods, and police urge residents to take precautions and keep their doors and windows locked at all times.
