Dallas police said Thursday that they still have few leads in the violent sexual assault of a woman in a popular entertainment district nearly three weeks ago.
The 30-year-old victim was attacked while walking to her car on the night the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship after leaving a bar on Henderson Avenue.
A rape kit that could contain the attacker's DNA is being processed, but police said it could take weeks to get the results.
"Southwest Institute of Forensic Science processes all of our rape kits, and we can't really dictate a time line for them," Senior Cpl. Sherri Jeffrey said.
Dallas police say officers who work in the Knox-Henderson area are aware of the attack and will be stepping up patrols.
"We are adding some more staffing for our entertainment district and the surrounding area for the weekend," Deputy Chief Mike Genovesi said.
Victim's Friends Raise Reward to Nearly $50,000
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Friends of the victim say they are determined to help catch the attacker and have raised nearly $50,000 in reward money.
"We don't want to stop until someone brings the lead that cracks this case open for the detectives," said Brittany, a friend of the victim. "This isn't going to happen one time; it's going to happen again."
NBC DFW is not using her full name to protect the identity of the victim.
"Just imagine being a woman, ambushed walking to your car and the worst thing imaginable is done to you, and then they leave you to die in the middle of the street," Brittany said.
She said she hasn't been able to sleep since her friend was found in bushes along Garrett Avenue.
"Literally, for a detective to find you and say you shouldn't be alive -- and she is and she's fighting and she's in great spirits -- that says a lot about who she is as a person and the person that did this to her," Brittany said.
The reward fund includes $20,000 donated by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
In an email to NBC DFW, Cuban said, "I'm just doing the right thing."
"To Mark Cuban, a huge thank you; she is a die-hard Mavericks fan, and this meant a lot to her, her family and all of us," Brittany said.
Anyone with information about the assault should call Crime Stoppers at 214-373-8477.
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