WASHINGTON — It was six months ago that a woman told Howard County detectives about violent rape which took place in a vacant apartment in Columbia, Maryland. Now, with the suspect still out there, police are now asking for the public’s help again in finding him.
The woman gave a detailed description of the man to police at the time and a sketch was released. This is an attack Sherry Llewellyn with Howard County Police calls a violent case of stranger rape.
“We don’t want this suspect to commit this crime against anyone else,” Llewellyn said.
Police say on Jan. 21, the man tried to have a conversation with the female victim in her 30s at the Columbia Landing Apartments on the 8900 block of Tamar Drive. She said after attempting to avoid the suspect, he suddenly pulled her into a vacant apartment and assaulted her.
Police say they believe the man was staying in the vacant apartment because the woman remembers seeing him days before the attack.
A weapon was not used in the crime. The Howard County Police Department says no similar cases have been reported in the area since the alleged attack.
A $5,000 reward is being offered in the case, $4,000 of the reward comes from Equity Management in Columbia, which manages the apartment complex where the attack is said to have occurred.
The suspect is described as a black male in his 30s or older with a medium complexion. Also, the victim told investigators he had short gold-colored or bleached dreadlocks or braids. Llewellyn says the woman also recalled unusual pigmentation of the skin on the suspect’s cheeks, which leave some areas darker than others.
The man is said to have a muscular, medium build. At the time of the alleged attack, he was wearing black sweatpants and no shirt.
“We want to bring closure to this, not only for her, but for the entire community,” Llewellyn said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Howard County Police at 410-313-STOP.
