Teen Pleads for Public's Help to Put Rapist Behind Bars
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: February 14, 2013
"I just decided to do whatever I could to survive," she said, her face concealed in the dark.
We're concealing this teen's identity. She's a victim of a violent crime who is stepping out of the shadows, but she still fears for her safety because her rapist remains at large.
"I beat myself up a lot about it saying I should have known better," she said.
Six months ago, a fight broke out between friends on Roosevelt Road and this teen found herself bruised and bloody in Little Rock without a lifeline.
"A man had pulled up and offered help to take me away and get me out of the situation," she said.
Taking the offer, it turned out her Good Samaritan was not what he seemed. Another woman was in the car, but after the man dropped her off, the nightmare began for our victim.
"He said he had a pistol and to do what he wanted me to d," she said. "I was terrified it."
In an empty lot on Roosevelt, he assaulted and abandoned her.
"He did everything in between up to the rape, all of it," she said. "It was like my body was there, but I was just watching all of this happen. I could not believe it."
"Not every person is out to help you," said Sgt. Cassandra Davis with Little Rock Police.
The department's investigators describe the suspect vehicle as a grey two-toned sedan, similar to models they released in photos, hoping the public may have information to offer.
"We do need to identify him. It's is possible he may be involved in other incidents," Davis said. "It's not hard to believe this happened to this girl, but it is extremely unfortunate. She was in a bad situation, and when someone approached her to offer help, she found herself in one that was worse."
Davis said while it's tempting to take someone up on an offer, especially when you're stranded in a strange or stressful situation, it may be better to stay in a public area.
"There may be a business nearby. Go to that business and see if you can use the phone to call police or someone you know to help you," Sgt. Davis said. "Stick to places with crowds. You want to believe in the best in people, but sometimes they don't have your best interest at heart."
For now, this teenaged victim can only hope other strangers who saw something that night might be her saving grace to get justice and save others from the fear she feels.
"I picture him almost mocking me and doing it to some other innocent girl, walking away like 'Hhere I am and no one is going to stop me'," she said.
If there's a silver lining, it may be that she's surviving at all. She's currently enrolled as a freshman in a local college to study psychology.
"It maybe gave me a reference point. A lot of times helping people and understanding their situations can come from what you've experienced yourself. I guess in that way it has helped me know where they are coming from."
If you have any information, you're asked to contact the Little Rock Police Department. You can provide that information anonymously to lead to an arrest.
The man is described as a black male in his late 30's, with a round face and clean shaven.
A reward is also being offered for information that leads to a resolution in the investigation.
We're concealing this teen's identity. She's a victim of a violent crime who is stepping out of the shadows, but she still fears for her safety because her rapist remains at large.
"I beat myself up a lot about it saying I should have known better," she said.
Six months ago, a fight broke out between friends on Roosevelt Road and this teen found herself bruised and bloody in Little Rock without a lifeline.
"A man had pulled up and offered help to take me away and get me out of the situation," she said.
Taking the offer, it turned out her Good Samaritan was not what he seemed. Another woman was in the car, but after the man dropped her off, the nightmare began for our victim.
"He said he had a pistol and to do what he wanted me to d," she said. "I was terrified it."
In an empty lot on Roosevelt, he assaulted and abandoned her.
"He did everything in between up to the rape, all of it," she said. "It was like my body was there, but I was just watching all of this happen. I could not believe it."
"Not every person is out to help you," said Sgt. Cassandra Davis with Little Rock Police.
The department's investigators describe the suspect vehicle as a grey two-toned sedan, similar to models they released in photos, hoping the public may have information to offer.
"We do need to identify him. It's is possible he may be involved in other incidents," Davis said. "It's not hard to believe this happened to this girl, but it is extremely unfortunate. She was in a bad situation, and when someone approached her to offer help, she found herself in one that was worse."
Davis said while it's tempting to take someone up on an offer, especially when you're stranded in a strange or stressful situation, it may be better to stay in a public area.
"There may be a business nearby. Go to that business and see if you can use the phone to call police or someone you know to help you," Sgt. Davis said. "Stick to places with crowds. You want to believe in the best in people, but sometimes they don't have your best interest at heart."
For now, this teenaged victim can only hope other strangers who saw something that night might be her saving grace to get justice and save others from the fear she feels.
"I picture him almost mocking me and doing it to some other innocent girl, walking away like 'Hhere I am and no one is going to stop me'," she said.
If there's a silver lining, it may be that she's surviving at all. She's currently enrolled as a freshman in a local college to study psychology.
"It maybe gave me a reference point. A lot of times helping people and understanding their situations can come from what you've experienced yourself. I guess in that way it has helped me know where they are coming from."
If you have any information, you're asked to contact the Little Rock Police Department. You can provide that information anonymously to lead to an arrest.
The man is described as a black male in his late 30's, with a round face and clean shaven.
A reward is also being offered for information that leads to a resolution in the investigation.
