A Tale of Two Rapes

Both alleged crimes are rape, yet they could hardly be more dissimilar. The attack in Colbert Square was planned, yet random. The victim reported the crime to police in a matter of minutes after she was free. There were witnesses (two women in two other apartments who were first approached).

Now we need someone to come forward who knows the miscreant. Whether from Sheffield or the Shoals or not, he had been in the area long enough to be familiar with Colbert Square and the York Terrace area in general. Call the Sheffield Police if you know anything. This crime may have been some kind of initiation, but it could also have been the beginning of a series of attacks on women. We don't know and we don't want to find out the hard way.

The second rape? It's just been reported:

August UNA Rape

The alleged victim took seven weeks to report the crime. She knew her attacker and he apparently committed no other crime during the rape (nothing was stolen). Why did she wait?

The young woman may have been traumatized or had to be encouraged by her friends to say something officially. After seven weeks, it's also possible that the woman has visited medical personnel and discovered her attacker left her with physical problems. It's also possible the woman has learned her rapist has attempted the same with other co-eds and doesn't want him free to hurt others.

No matter the young woman's reason for waiting, we can't deny it will be much harder to prosecute this crime...or even to indict. It's a horrible thing, but if you're raped, report it immediately. Ask for (demand) assistance from Rape Response or similar group, and if you're able, hire a private attorney to represent you.

Good luck to anyone going through such an ordeal. Let us know if we can help. We will at least try.



Shoalanda