East Lansing police officials say the assault of an MSU student in her home earlier this month is likely connected to a sequence of similar attacks that have occurred during the past three years.
"Can we prove it? Not at this point, but we believe they are related," police Deputy Chief Tom Wibert said Sunday. "We're treating it as though it's one case - all related."
Officers initially said the Jan. 10 attack shared common traits with two other unsolved cases that occurred within a mile radius, but they were treating the cases separately.
In the most recent case, a communication senior, who lives on Linden Street between John R. Street and Wayland Avenue, awoke to an intruder armed with a knife covering her mouth with his hand to keep her from screaming.
Last May, a man with a knife attempted to sexually assault a woman on the 100 block of Kedzie Street and in May 2000, a sexual assault with a knife was committed against a woman on the 400 block of Ann Street.
Police are looking into matching DNA from this year's case to past cases. The latest victim drew the attacker's blood when she bit him.
Wibert said a majority of the cases have happened in early morning hours where a female has fought off the attacker.
In each attack, the intruder was described as a white male in his mid-20s, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8 with a thin build and shaggy blond or light brown hair. Several victims have stated their attacker had an unusually deep voice for his size, though the assailant did not speak in the most recent case.
"If we thought it was a whole bunch of guys doing this, that would be even more unsettling," Wibert said.
The suspect is likely familiar with the city because he has yet to break into a house where a male lives, Wibert said.
"I don't think anybody should change their lifestyle, but just be aware and lock their door if they're not," he said.
Emma Kruch, a communication junior and neighborhood resource coordinator for the Bailey Neighborhood, has been working with Wibert to put together a safety program for people who live in the community.
"The thing about this guy is we think he picks his victims carefully because he's never made a mistake," she said. "The door's always open and the girls have been by themselves or with other women."
Kruch said the most recent attack was surprising because many residents thought the suspect had graduated or moved away, adding she hopes the DNA tests will help produce more concrete results.
"I think in any city or area this large, none of us are immune to crime," said Doris Siegmann, president of the Southeast Marble Neighborhood, where the latest attack occurred. "Every couple years something happens that makes you worried."
If you have information on the attacks, call the East Lansing Police Department at (517)351-4220.
Chad Previch can be reached at previchc@msu.edu
