Woman Ambushed, Attacked Near Area Where Jogger's Body Found
'People Are Snatching People From Bushes,' Resident Says
POSTED: Monday, July 7, 2008
UPDATED: 1:00 pm EDT July 8,
2008
 |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A woman walking her dog was ambushed and attacked by a man hiding in some bushes not far from where a slain jogger's body was found last month.
IMAGE: New Composite Sketch Released
RELATED: 200 Sex Offenders In Area
IMAGES: Map Of Attacks, Sketches
Investigators said the fourth attack on a woman in the same area of east Orange County involved a 25-year-old deaf woman Monday night.The woman was walking on Goldenrod Road near Toledo Street when a man jumped out of the bushes.The man attacked and attempted to drag her into the bushes until she was able to free herself."She began to run away and he ripped her shirt -- to the point of almost ripping it off her body," Orange County sheriff's Sgt. Rich Mankewich said.The man then chased the woman for about 600 yards to an apartment complex before the man turned around, the Orange County Sheriff's Office reported.An extensive search of the area included bloodhounds and an aviation unit but no one was found late Monday.The attack happened just miles from where someone snatched and killed Nicole Ganguzza, 26, on June 10 while she jogged at Blanchard Park in Orange County. Ganguzza's body was found in a wooded area by a post office near the park."People are snatching people from bushes, it is scary," a resident said.Neighbors said they are familiar with Ganguzza's homicide and the "East-Side Rapist" who has been targeting female joggers in the area for the last few years.Detectives are looking to see if the attack can be linked to the Ganguzza homicide but told Local 6's Jessica D'Onofrio that the attack has more similarities to the "East-Side Rapist" cases."The girls are walking or jogging down the street and the guy jumps out of the bushes and attempts to grab them and drag them in," Mankewich said. "In all three cases now, the females were able to get away."The attacker is described as being in his 30s, with a thin build. He was wearing dark shorts and a white T-shirt.Anyone with information about the latest attack or Ganguzza's death is urged to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGE: New Composite Sketch Released RELATED: 200 Sex Offenders In Area IMAGES: Map Of Attacks, Sketches Investigators said the fourth attack on a woman in the same area of east Orange County involved a 25-year-old deaf woman Monday night.The woman was walking on Goldenrod Road near Toledo Street when a man jumped out of the bushes.The man attacked and attempted to drag her into the bushes until she was able to free herself."She began to run away and he ripped her shirt -- to the point of almost ripping it off her body," Orange County sheriff's Sgt. Rich Mankewich said.The man then chased the woman for about 600 yards to an apartment complex before the man turned around, the Orange County Sheriff's Office reported.An extensive search of the area included bloodhounds and an aviation unit but no one was found late Monday.The attack happened just miles from where someone snatched and killed Nicole Ganguzza, 26, on June 10 while she jogged at Blanchard Park in Orange County. Ganguzza's body was found in a wooded area by a post office near the park."People are snatching people from bushes, it is scary," a resident said.Neighbors said they are familiar with Ganguzza's homicide and the "East-Side Rapist" who has been targeting female joggers in the area for the last few years.Detectives are looking to see if the attack can be linked to the Ganguzza homicide but told Local 6's Jessica D'Onofrio that the attack has more similarities to the "East-Side Rapist" cases."The girls are walking or jogging down the street and the guy jumps out of the bushes and attempts to grab them and drag them in," Mankewich said. "In all three cases now, the females were able to get away."The attacker is described as being in his 30s, with a thin build. He was wearing dark shorts and a white T-shirt.Anyone with information about the latest attack or Ganguzza's death is urged to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Previous Stories:
- July 1, 2008: Search For Slain Jogger's Killer Continues
- June 19, 2008: 2 Persons Of Interest Cleared In Central Fla. Jogger Homicide Case
- June 19, 2008: Crimeline Inundated With Tips After Jogger Homicide Sketches Released
- June 18, 2008: Sketches Of Persons Of Interest Released In Jogger Homicide
- June 16, 2008: 'I Wouldn't Hurt A Fly,' Says Man Questioned In Jogger Homicide
- June 15, 2008: 200 Sex Offenders Live Near Area Where Jogger's Body Found
- June 13, 2008: Man Apparently Fitting 'East-Side Rapist' Description Questioned In Jogger Homicide
- June 12, 2008: Missing Jogger Found Dead In Same Area Of 'East-Side Rapist' Attacks
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