Full Notification

Palmdale Detectives are asking for the public’s help to identifying and locating an attempted rape suspect who brutally assaulted a 74 year old woman.

On Sunday, September 11, at about 3:00 PM, a 74 year-old woman was sitting at a bus stop outside of Vallarta Supermarket on 18th Street East and Palmdale Blvd. The suspect was parked in the Antelope Valley Bank parking lot when he called the victim over to his vehicle and persuaded her to accept a ride home.

While driving the victim towards her residence, he began making advances towards victim. When the victim refused, he drove the victim to a closed business complex near 3rd Street East and Avenue P, where he attempted to sexually assault her in the vehicle. When the victim would not get out of the vehicle the suspect began beating the victim with a closed fists and a blunt object. The victim began screaming at which point the suspect fled the location in his vehicle leaving the victim with severe injuries to both her jaw and head injuries.

Unfamiliar with her surroundings and scared of her attacker returning, the victim concealed her injuries and boarded a nearby bus heading towards her home. The victim then walked approximately a mile from the where the bus dropped her off to her home where she described the violent encounter to her family.

Working with Detectives, the victim recalled details about the suspect’s vehicle, which is described as a wine colored older model Toyota single cab pickup. The vehicle had two bucket seats in the cab instead of a bench.

The suspect is described as a 50 to 60 year old Hispanic male with a light complexion and light colored eyes (possibly hazel).

Palmdale Station is releasing a sketch of the suspect as well as photos of a vehicle similar to the one of the attacker. We are asking if anyone recognizes the individual, or has any information about the case, to please contact Detective Gillis at 661-272-2412. Or anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Prepared by Deputy Robbie Royster