According to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, there has been a change in suspect description with respect to the investigation of a rape that reportedly occurred on Wednesday, July 6 on Molly Lane in Sebago.
On July 6, a 24-year-old female reported being physically and sexually assaulted at knife-point while sunbathing on the rear deck of her home.
The complainant at the time described the assailant as a white male, unshaven, in his late 40’s or early 50’s, with gray unkempt hair, approximately 5-feet-11-inches tall with an athletic build, wearing black rimmed glasses.
The alleged victim has now retracted her story as to the physical description and is telling police that the assailant was about six feet tall, and was wearing a black ski mask, black T-shirt, black gloves and dark jeans at the time of the attack. Originally, the victim described her attacker as wearing a dark green T-shirt, blue jeans splattered with white paint and white sneakers.
The investigation continues. However, Captain Frank Lyons said the Sheriff’s Office has “run out of credible leads, and, in light of the change in the description, investigators are waiting to re-visit the complainant’s original story of the event.”
Detective Lt. Donald Foss said Det. Brian Ackerman is working full-time on the case along with two detectives assisting. Foss said the department believes the woman is credible, but has changed her description with the passage of time because she is still regaining her memory of the event.
“It was a very traumatic situation,” Foss said. “As a result of some of that emotion, she obviously had some confusion as to the identity of the suspect. But, as time has passed, she’s gotten a clearer picture of who attacked her and the man she first described is not the man we’re looking for.”
With the crime occurring a month ago, Foss said the department is still getting calls every day with tips.
“The case is still very much being investigated. She was the victim of a violent criminal act. We have no leads at all, but we encourage anyone with information, not based on the previously published composite sketch, to call us,” Foss said.
The department phone number is 774-1444.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
