Safety Alert: Police Ask For Help To ID Dade Assailant, Elderly Victim Speaks Out
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A 74-year-old woman sexually assaulted by a man who forced his way into her home is speaking out to help raise awareness in hopes the assailant is caught.
A peaceful day turned into a nightmare for the elderly woman attacked.
"I was reading my Bible and someone knocked on my door," she said.
This 74-year-old woman, who will not be identified for her protection, meditates every morning by studying her Bible.
"I wasn't thinking about evilness or hurtfulness or anything," she said.
So when she got a knock on her door, the normally cautious senior, opened it without thinking.
That's when she says a man pushed his way inside.
"He snatched the door from me and proceeded to push his way into my home," she explained. "He ended up knocking me down and it was a battle there for a while. My door was wide open so I was screaming as loud as I could scream."
She fought hard, and believes she surprised her attacker with her strength.
"I don't think he anticipated me being as strong as I am because I'm an older woman," she said.
Police tell her they think the man might live in the neighborhood. In fact, they believe, he may have struck again Friday morning.
"Next thing I know, there was a knock at my door," said a neighbor.
The neighbor, who asked not to show her face, says the man outside her door at 6 a.m. looked shady.
She knew of the attack on April 27th and had seen the sketch and wanted flyer.
"I began to scream, 'I'm calling the police, I'm calling the police,'" she said. "he rides up and down the street quite a bit, just rides his bicycle."
This neighborhood in the area of SW 152nd Street and SW 107th Avenue is one where everyone seems to know each other. They're hopeful this guy will be caught soon.
"I feel sad because this can happen with anybody and I feel scared about this situation that hit an beings can do this to each other," said neighbor Lia Cordova. "The community needs to help catch this person so he cannot do this to other people."
Neighbor Marvin Shotwell says he and others in the community are determined to see that the criminal is captured.
"I mean that's horrible," he said. "It could be my mom or anyone else's parent or grandparent around here. This is frustrating. We want to put him away. We are on the lookout for him. We want to catch him and tackle him and take him down."
Some neighbors believe they've seen the man before, and police are hoping someone can lead them to him.
He is described as an 18 to 25-year-old black man, about 5'6'' to 5'8" in height, with a medium to heavy build.
He was last seen wearing a white shirt and dark shorts.
As for the women who came in close contact with him, they want him in jail – but trust their faith, to protect them.
"I believe God will keep me, and I don't walk in fear, I walk in full faith and trust that God will watch over me," the 74-year-old woman's neighbor said.
Anyone who may have information in the case is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
