Serial kidnapper strikes third time, Delaware police say
WILMINGTON, Del. — Police believe a man who reportedly tried to abduct a woman at gunpoint at a Delaware apartment Monday evening is the same person who kidnapped, robbed and sexually assaulted women in two separate incidents in February.
The attacker remains at large.
The victim Monday told responding officers that a man wearing a mask and dark clothing approached her as she walked to her home at the Preserve at Deacons Walk apartments in Pike Creek, Del., near Newark, according to a statement from the New Castle County (Del.) Police Department. Pike Creek is about 16 miles west of Wilmington, Del.
The man then pulled out a gun and demanded money as he forced her to the entrance of her apartment, police said. As they arrived at her unit, another resident answered the door, prompting the man to flee, according to police.
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The victim described the man as 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall with an average build. His race could not be determined because of the face covering that he wore, a police spokesman said.
The attacker in previous, similar incidents — which police believe are linked — had been described as a Caucasian man, 5 feet 8 inches tall, who spoke with a "distinct" accent.
Numerous New Castle County police officers responded to Monday's attack at 6:30 p.m., quickly blocking roads leading to the suburban apartment complex and causing confusion among residents trying to arrive home after the evening commute.
Police allowed vehicles out of the area only after checking licenses and registrations, and in some cases, asking for drivers' phone numbers.
Elizabeth Rogers, a Wilmington resident, waited hours to leave the apartment complex after caring for her grandson. She knew only that a robbery occurred, unaware that police were combing the area for a possible serial attacker.
"I couldn't get out of there; they turned us back. ... I kept looking at the window, and I could see the (police) lights and the helicopter," said Rogers, as the Delaware State Police helicopter hovered over the area.
After conducting the initial investigation Monday night, officers concluded that the perpetrator is the same person who attacked women at two other northern Delaware apartment buildings.
On Feb. 19, a woman at the Arundel Apartments, also in Pike Creek, was approached by a masked man who, like in Monday's attack, forced her to her apartment and demanded money, according to police. He then physically and sexually assaulted her inside the apartment, according to reports. After the assault, he forced her back to her vehicle, and drove her to multiple ATMs in order to withdraw cash, police said.
After stops at the ATMs, the woman escaped and called 911, according to police. She was taken to a hospital where she was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries.
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The attack also mirrors a kidnapping that occurred Feb. 13 at Top of the Hill Apartments in Holly Oak, Del., according to county police. In that case, an armed man approached a woman, forced her into her own vehicle before driving to a nearby ATM, where she withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash, according to police.
During the hour-and-a-half incident, the man hit the woman in the face and held conversations with himself about his plans for the woman, police said. He then sexually assaulted the woman while inside the vehicle, according to reports.
After those two attacks, the New Castle County Police Department announced it would increase patrols, as well as elevate the response for suspicious people or vehicles to "priority one." The response to these 911 calls is immediate attention from patrol units.
Jenny Kriesher, an area resident who lives two blocks from the apartments, allowed her guard dog, a Labrador, outside of her house and into a gated yard after hearing from police early in the evening that a dangerous person was prowling the neighborhood.
"We heard robbery, too, so we're just concerned," said Kriesher. "We're worried because it's dark over here and this (neighbor's) house is empty."
By nightfall Kreisher hadn't seen anyone suspicious.
A reward of up to $20,000 is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the attacker.
Follow Karl Baker on Twitter: @kbaker6