Purse, cap latest clues in hunt for rapist

Cathy Scott

Friday, April 10, 1998 | 10:49 a.m.

Metro Police have moved another step toward finding the identity of a serial rapist who they believe has attacked six women in the last 18 months.

An expensive purse was stolen during an attempted rape last month at the Flamingo Polo Club Apartments and detectives have released a photo of the handbag, which is valued at more than $800. The purse is dark tan, and has a Louis Vuitton "LV" in the lower right-hand corner.

Also, a Nike skull cap left behind during a March 24 attempt was examined by forensics experts who found hairs from a black dog and a black and white cat, police said. Detectives believe the rapist either owns these animals or is often near them.

"Hopefully somebody will put two-and-two together and give us a call," Sexual Assault Lt. Craig Klatt said. "I'm surprised somebody hasn't said, 'I know who wears that hat.'

The victim also wears dark-colored cotton sweat pants, Klatt said.

One victim described the attacker to police as a white man in his early 20s with short and thin light-brown hair, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 150 to 160 pounds,

Five of the assaults happened in the southeast area of the valley. An attack in the northwest in early March was linked by detectives this week to the same man.

Victims are threatened by the attacker, who enters apartments through sliding glass doors and windows, surprising the victims. He wears black clothing and gloves.

SUN REPORTER Denise Cardinal contributed to this story.