Victim gets look at rapist

Cathy Scott

Tuesday, March 3, 1998 | 10:04 a.m.

Metro Police have gotten their first break in one of two cases involving serial rapists in the Las Vegas Valley.

The latest victim, a 16-year-old girl, is the first person since the attacks began 15 months ago who has been able to describe her attacker.

"She's the only victim who has seen his face," sexual assault Lt. Craig Klatt said.

With her description, a police artist was able to draw a composite image of the attacker. The drawing was released Monday. Police believe no other attacks have occurred since the 16-year-old was raped at 4 a.m. last week at the Polo Club Apartments, 4201 S. Decatur Blvd.

The attacker strikes between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. while the victims are sleeping, police said.

In the latest case, the attacker went through a rear patio door and sexually assaulted the girl at knife point, police said.

A description of a second rapist in the southwest area of the valley is not available because he wears a mask and gloves and women have not been able to get a good look at him, police said.

Police are circulating the drawing in hopes of catching the attacker.

Police said the southwest rapist may be a copycat rapist of the rapist in the southeast area of the valley.

"The m.o. seems to be pretty doggone close," Klatt said.

Seven women have been attacked since December 1996. The last three attacks may have been committed by a copycat criminal in the southwest, sexual assault Sgt. Clint Robison said earlier. The attacks are all done during pre-dawn hours and single young women or teenagers who live in ground-floor apartments on the edges of apartment complexes are targeted.

The southwest rapist is described as a mixed-race man about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin to medium build, dark hair and dark eyes.