Police seek help in year-old case

5:26 p.m., May 17, 2004--Newark Police are seeking help with a nearly year-old case involving the abduction at gunpoint of a UD student. Police today released this composite, hand-drawn sketch of the suspect that the victim recently created with an artist.

The incident, which occurred a year ago—on May 22, 2003, at 2:30 a.m., involved a 19-year-old UD student who was waiting for friends on the sidewalk between the Continental Apartment complex at 65 South Chapel St. and the 7-11 on East Delaware Ave. She was confronted by a white man in his early 20s driving a black sedan who engaged her in small talk before displaying a handgun and physically forcing her into the car. Once she was in the car, she was restrained, and her eyes were covered. She was driven to an unknown location and sexually assaulted and then transported back to the intersection of West Main and Corbit streets, where she was released between 4:30 and 4:50 a.m.

On May 20, 2003, another incident in which a student was approached in a similar manner was reported to UD Police. The two incidents are believed to be related.

Newark Police have contacted other jurisdictions nationwide to determine if similar incidents have occurred. To date, no leads have led to an arrest or a valid suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newark Police Department Criminal Investigations at 366-7120, or Delaware Crimestoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, where information may be left anonymously.

E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.