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Clearfield • Utah police officials believe they have tied at least 11 violent rapes between 1991 to 2001 to the same man — but they are still working to track the suspect down.
The suspect committed each rape in a similar fashion, Clearfield police say: He would break into homes, blindfold the victim with duct tape or ripped clothing, and then brutally rape the victim repeatedly — often while other people were in the home. He targeted women in apartments with sliding glass doors, and would take money and panties with him when he left.
His victims ranged in age from an 11-year-old girl to a woman who was 52, according to police, and they lived in Clearfield, Ogden, Layton and Riverdale. Other reported rapes occurred in the Wyoming towns of Rock Springs and Laramie.
Clearfield Sgt. Kyle Jeffries said during a Monday afternoon press conference that in the last few weeks, police have received confirmation that the same man's DNA ties eight of the rape cases together. However, they still don't know who is behind the crimes.
The suspect has been described as white male who was in his 20s and 30s when the crimes were committed between 14 and 24 years ago. In early cases, he was described as slender, Jeffries said, but by 2001, the victims reported him as stocky with a "pot belly." He has light-colored hair.
Jeffries said that just hours before the Monday press conference, they received new information about a vehicle the suspect had been driving at the time of one of the rapes: A dark-colored, two-door Pontiac Firebird. The car had bucket seats with sheep skin covers, Jeffries said, and had wood grain on the dashboard. It had an automatic transmission, and a molded armrest in the backseat.
"It's very plausible that he's still out there and somebody is hopefully going to recognize this," Jeffries said.
Anyone with information about the case can call their local police department or Clearfield police dispatch at 801-525-2806.
Jeffries said officers have been investigating these cases for years, but only recently were allotted the resources and time between all of the police departments involved so they can work together over the next few weeks. He said they will continue following leads until they find the rapist.
"We're not going to stop until we know who this guy is," he said.
The sergeant also noted that other women may have been victimized by the same man, but never reported the assaults to police. He encouraged those women to come forward to law enforcement.
"There are probably other victims out there who never did come forward," Jeffries said. "[They were] traumatized and threatened to be killed."
Serial rapist linked to 11 cases in Utah and Wyoming
1991, Rock Springs, WY
1992, Riverdale, UT
1993, Ogden, UT
1994, Clearfield, UT
1995, Clearfield, UT
1996, Laramie, WY
1997, Layton, UT
1997, Clearfield, UT
2000, Clearfield, UT
2000, Clearfield, UT
2001, Clearfield, UT
— Source: Clearfield Police Department