Southern Methodist University

University Park Police Release Sketch of Suspected Rapist

Man raped SMU student at knifepoint, says police

University Park police released a sketch Monday of a rape suspect who reportedly attacked a Southern Methodist University student earlier this month.

The sketch is based on the victim's description of her attacker, according to Lita Snellgrove of the University Park Police Department.

The man reportedly snuck up on the victim from behind, knife in hand, while she was jogging around 11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, in the 6700 block of Willard Drive.

The man is described as black, 6 feet tall and in his early-20s with a "football-player build," dark skin, black close-cropped hair, wearing a white Los Angeles Angels baseball jersey, blue shorts and black sneakers, according to police.

The man also had a tattoo on the left side of his neck depicting a crown with some type of script writing below the crown, police said.

"We're hoping [with all of those details] that we're gonna get calls on who this suspect is," Snellgrove said.

The area where the attack happened is approximately one half-mile east of the SMU campus, in a tightly-packed neighborhood just east of U.S. Highway 75-Central Expressway.

The man pulled the victim behind a stone wall which serves as the sign for the tiny Humann Park, according to neighbors who witnessed the aftermath of the incident.

Since the rape, University Park workers have trimmed back on several plants that grow on top of the rock wall, in addition to several tree limbs and entire trees in the park, in an effort of increase visibility, according to neighbors.

Police could not confirm Monday night if that work was done specifically in response to the attack.

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