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Composite Face, Clothing Sketches Circulated to Catch Serial Rapist
Aired June 18, 2003 - 10:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, ANCHOR: In Miami, Florida, residents remain on edge as police continue their hunt for a serial rapist in that city. Authorities said they have linked one man to seven attacks. The victims include several Young girls and a 77-year-old woman.
Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, has been following this story for us for some time now. She joins us live from Miami with the latest details.
Good morning, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.
Police here at headquarters are saying it's very hard to tell exactly who they're looking for, because the rapist appears to be targeting victims of so many different ages, including children ages 11, 12 and 13. The oldest victim, 79.
And that is why the use of DNA is so important.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): All but one of the seven rapes now linked to the same Miami serial rapist are DNA matches. All victims lived in the same, quiet Miami neighborhood. The latest known victim, a 77-year-old woman attacked in March. Police say the suspect forced his way into her home during the daytime.
CHIEF JOHN TIMONEY, MIAMI POLICE: He is I don't -- I don't want to use the word charming, but he is disarming. That he has a ruse, in other words, "I'm looking for rent an apartment or a building."
CANDIOTTI: Authorities say the string of attacks began last September, yet police failed to connect them until DNA was compared from three girls as Young as 11, raped in the last few weeks.
The problem: DNA collected from victims was never submitted as required to a county crime lab. That's why the latest case is only being linked now. More cases are under review.
The police chief has had to admit yet another error, and is promising policies will be revised. Meantime, he is trying to make sense of a rapist who's targeting victims of all ages.
TIMONEY: I have never in my career seen a situation where the age ranges from 79 down to 11. CANDIOTTI: A state crime slab is now analyzing DNA swabs, taken voluntarily from at least 145 people under general suspicion. The ACLU is questioning the move's legality.
Police say because of the attacker's accent and use of language, they believe he's from Central America. They're circulating sketches of a flashy shirt and jewelry described by victims, and hope someone will recognize them and, therefore, the suspected rapist.
TIMONEY: I'm convinced that the answer lies in somebody giving us a call saying I saw that shirt. I saw this guy in a cafeteria, in a bodega. I know him. He lives down the block.
CANDIOTTI: Police say for now they assume the rapist is still in the Miami area.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Police here are also expecting help from the FBI. That agency is working on a profile of the suspected rapist, but no word on when that will be ready -- Leon.
HARRIS: Susan Candiotti in Miami. Thank you, Susan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Serial Rapist>
Aired June 18, 2003 - 10:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, ANCHOR: In Miami, Florida, residents remain on edge as police continue their hunt for a serial rapist in that city. Authorities said they have linked one man to seven attacks. The victims include several Young girls and a 77-year-old woman.
Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, has been following this story for us for some time now. She joins us live from Miami with the latest details.
Good morning, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.
Police here at headquarters are saying it's very hard to tell exactly who they're looking for, because the rapist appears to be targeting victims of so many different ages, including children ages 11, 12 and 13. The oldest victim, 79.
And that is why the use of DNA is so important.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): All but one of the seven rapes now linked to the same Miami serial rapist are DNA matches. All victims lived in the same, quiet Miami neighborhood. The latest known victim, a 77-year-old woman attacked in March. Police say the suspect forced his way into her home during the daytime.
CHIEF JOHN TIMONEY, MIAMI POLICE: He is I don't -- I don't want to use the word charming, but he is disarming. That he has a ruse, in other words, "I'm looking for rent an apartment or a building."
CANDIOTTI: Authorities say the string of attacks began last September, yet police failed to connect them until DNA was compared from three girls as Young as 11, raped in the last few weeks.
The problem: DNA collected from victims was never submitted as required to a county crime lab. That's why the latest case is only being linked now. More cases are under review.
The police chief has had to admit yet another error, and is promising policies will be revised. Meantime, he is trying to make sense of a rapist who's targeting victims of all ages.
TIMONEY: I have never in my career seen a situation where the age ranges from 79 down to 11. CANDIOTTI: A state crime slab is now analyzing DNA swabs, taken voluntarily from at least 145 people under general suspicion. The ACLU is questioning the move's legality.
Police say because of the attacker's accent and use of language, they believe he's from Central America. They're circulating sketches of a flashy shirt and jewelry described by victims, and hope someone will recognize them and, therefore, the suspected rapist.
TIMONEY: I'm convinced that the answer lies in somebody giving us a call saying I saw that shirt. I saw this guy in a cafeteria, in a bodega. I know him. He lives down the block.
CANDIOTTI: Police say for now they assume the rapist is still in the Miami area.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Police here are also expecting help from the FBI. That agency is working on a profile of the suspected rapist, but no word on when that will be ready -- Leon.
HARRIS: Susan Candiotti in Miami. Thank you, Susan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Serial Rapist>
