Police still seek clues in student attack
Published 8:52 pm Wednesday, February 16, 2011
It’s been more than five weeks since a Troy University student was abducted from her home and attacked, and police are working to keep the incident fresh in the public’s mind.
“It’s still as important to us today as it was the morning we found out (about the attack),” said Sgt. Benny Scarbrough. “We still have investigators following up any and all leads.”
The Troy student was abducted from her Smith Street home sometime after 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10. She was kidnapped, forced to drive her vehicle to a remote county road in the Needmore area and brutally attacked. She survived and has since been released from the hospital.
And police are continuing to look for the suspect in the attack. A $15,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the man believed to have kidnapped and attacked the student.
Police have released a composite sketch, based on the victim’s description. The suspect is described as an Police have described the suspect as an African-American man, perhaps in his mid 30s, about 5 feet, 8 inches to 6 feet tall, having a flat nose, light facial hair and strong body odor. At the time of the attack he was wearing dark clothing and a toboggan.
And, police and sheriff’s deputies conducted an informational roadblock in the Needmore area, seeking information from anyone who may have seen the suspect walking along the road the night of Jan. 10.
While officers are continuing to follow all leads and work forensic evidence, Scarbrough said none has led to an arrest.
“We still need the public to call us with leads and information,” he said. “The one thing I don’t want to do is have it get cold or cool off. We want people to hear about it, to think about it, to call us if they think they know something – even five weeks later that information is crucial.”
Anyone with information should call the Troy Police Department at (334) 566-0500, TPD Secret Witness Line at (334) 566-5555 or the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at (334) 566-4347.
“We’re not giving up on anything,” Scarbrough said.
“I wish there was something more we could say right now, but there’s not.”