Rape arrest reward increases to $5,000

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VALPARAISO: Hundreds of bulletins being posted in connection with rape of VU student.

 

BY KEN KOSKY

Times Staff Writer

 

VALPARAISO -- An anonymous donor has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever raped a Valparaiso University student at her off-campus apartment two weeks ago.

 

Valparaiso University Police Chief Edward Lloyd said a "concerned person" decided to increase the reward from $1,000 to $5,000 to encourage people with information to come forward.

 

Lloyd said the university put together a poster, written in English and Spanish, announcing the $5,000 reward and showing a sketch depicting the rapist. University and city police have distributed and posted about 500 copies at convenience stores, campus buildings and other locations in the area near the location of the rape, Lloyd said.

 

Police have information the rapist may have been peeping into windows during the days leading up to the July 18 rape, Lloyd said. He is hoping someone spotted the man getting into a vehicle or can identify him based on the police sketch.

 

"Somebody has to have seen this guy," Lloyd said.

 

The rapist is described as a Hispanic male, age 25 to 35, 5-foot-7-inches to 5-foot-10-inches tall, having a medium or muscular build. He has a long face, short black hair and a small amount of hair under his chin. He was wearing jeans and a gray ribbed T-shirt. The shirt had alternating thin and wide ribs that ran up and down.

 

The man is accused of raping a 21-year-old Valparaiso University student at her apartment in the area of LaPorte Avenue and Homer Court. The woman, who was working on a school project at another student's dormitory room, walked home to her apartment. At 3:45 a.m. July 18, after she had been home only a few minutes, her doorbell rang. When she opened the door, the suspect pushed his way inside and raped her after a lengthy struggle, she told police. No weapon was used in the attack, police said.

 

Valparaiso Detective Lt. Tom Horn, the lead investigator in the case, said he has received numerous tips and also has canvassed the area near the victim's apartment, but nothing has led to the identification of the suspect. He hopes distributing the sketch and publicizing the reward will result in a tip that will lead to an arrest.

 

Horn advises women to try not to travel alone and exercise caution by being aware of their surroundings. Horn said the victim plans on resuming her studies at VU in the future.

 

Anyone with information about the rapist is asked to call Valparaiso police at (219) 462-2135 or Valparaiso University police at (219) 464-5430.