East End Rape Suspect's Profile Refined

New Information Released At Town Meeting

PITTSBURGH, 1:40 p.m. EDT June 9, 2001 -- Law enforcement officials have updated their physical description of a man suspected in several rapes in the city this year and last.

Based on evidence gathered by an FBI profiler, investigators believe the suspect to be of Middle Eastern or Pakistani ancestry and that he has an accent.

Initially, the suspect was described as a black man.

The description has always been consistant with a dark-skinned male," said Allegheny County police Lt. David Walsh. "It's through the analysis of fluid (that) it was determined the person was of mixed race."

Some women, however, were frustrated and even angered by the news.

"I'm kind of upset because I'm thinking it's a black guy, and it's not even a black guy," said Kathy Skinner.

FBI Special Agent Jim Fitzgerald released the information to the public on Thursday at a town meeting in Squirrel Hill.

Officials said that the suspect is also believed to wear distictive jewelry, including a gold nugget ring on his left hand and a square-faced gold wristwatch on his left wrist.

He has hairy forearms, wears an 8 1/2 shoe and is chubby around the waist.

Fitzgerald said the attacker is most likely a loner who is uncomfortable around women socially, an underachiever who takes little pride in his appearance and usually comes out at night.

Police say that the attacker enters through a first-floor window in the middle of the night.

Rapes occurred last year in Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Edgewood and Swissvale.

Most of the rapes occurred around 3 a.m. and the rapist attacks the same type of women, those in their 20s.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the Pittsburgh Police at (412) 473-3155

Approximately 200 people attended Thursday's town meeting at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.

The meeting was sponsored by the Allegheny County police in cooperation with the Pittsburgh police, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, the Center for Victims of Violent Crime and other local law enforcement agencies.

More Information:

• Town Meeting Topic: East End Rapist


• How To Protect Yourself From Sexual Assault
• Pittsburgh Action Against Rape Web Site

Previous Stories:

• June 7, 2001: FBI Profiler To Investigate East End Rapes
• May 15, 2001: Police Probe Possible Return Of Serial Rapist
• March 17, 2001: Pittsburgh Action Against Rape: (412) 765-2731
• March 16, 2001: East End Rape Suspect Still At Large
• November 29, 2000: East End Rape Suspect Cleared

Copyright 2001 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.