Madison police released new information and asked for public support Thursday regarding a two-year-old case in which a UW-Madison graduate student was violently sexually assaulted.
Madison Police Department spokesman Joel DeSpain said the incident happened two years ago on the Capitol bike trail by Eastwood Drive and Division Street. He said a 22-year-old UW-Madison graduate student went out for coffee in the area and used the trail to return home.
The 22-year-old had come to Madison that [2005] fall semester in pursuit of fulfilling lifelong, educational dreams,"" DeSpain said. ""She would end up being violently assaulted by a stranger.""
The suspect is described as an Asian male, mid to late 20s, standing 5'8"" with very defined cheekbones. DeSpain said the suspect may still be in the area, but it is unknown if he has any affiliation to the city.
Even though much remains a mystery in this case, Tom Snyder, head of the MPD criminal intelligence section, said with the evidence currently collected for the case, the victim had no connection to the perpetrator.
Police intelligence revealed new information to the public that the suspect took a green, silk purse from the victim after he sexually assaulted her and threatened her life.
""We think that maybe someone may have taken this purse as a momento '¦ and that someone may have seen this purse in the two years since this has happened,"" DeSpain said.
Synder said the case is frustrating because the MPD has leads but nothing extremely valuable has turned up. He said he hopes the information about the purse coupled with reminding the public of the tragedy will provide a spark to the case.
""I think it's important to note that even when cases go cold and there's no current information to follow up on, that does not mean these cases are filed and die,"" Synder said. ""We cannot do our jobs without the public's trust and the public's support.""
Kelly Anderson of Madison's Rape Crisis Center said the fact remains that sexual assaults commited by strangers are much less likely to happen than being raped by someone familiar. She said this case's unique and tragic nature merited a reminder within the public.
""Anniversary dates are very important to [victims],"" Anderson said. ""Victims don't forget the day they were assaulted.""
DeSpain said the UW-Madison graduate has since moved away from Madison but remains in touch with the detectives working on the case.
