Police reminder: Park rapist still loose - Philadelphia News

FAIRMOUNT PARK - August 2, 2008 It's not unusual to see cyclists and joggers along Kelly Drive, but it is unusual to see many of them being flagged down by detectives from the Police Special Victims' Unit.

It's been almost one year since the last attack by the suspect known as the Fairmount Park rapist.

"A lot of people see it on the news and they think he's been caught or they're not aware he's still at large, so we want to caution people that use the park so they can be aware of their surroundings," Sgt. Joe McEntee of the Philadelphia Police said.

DNA tests showed that the same man was responsible for a rape along Kelly Drive in April 2003.

The rape and murder of Rebecca Park in Wynnefield Heights in July of that year.

And an attempted rape along Martin Luther King Drive three months later.

His DNA then showed up after a rape in Pennypack Park in August of last year.

Police handed out fliers with photos of the suspect near the scenes of all four attacks.

He's described as a Hispanic male, 5'8" tall, with a medium, muscular build, bushy eyebrows, a thin mustache. He also has some scars on one of his shoulders.

"We ask the public to take a look at the information we provided and to look around them, not just in the park areas, but also in their neighborhoods," the police said.

Many of the women police spoke with were unaware the suspect was still on the loose.

Police say they'd rather investigate a tip that doesn't pan out than never get that tip in the first place, so if you have any idea of who the suspect may be, you are asked to give them a call.

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