Brutal rape reported in Provo

PROVO — Police are still looking for the man they say brutally raped a 19-year-old woman and left her to die near her Provo apartment Wednesday.

The woman had left her residence at the Branbury Apartments, 425 W. 1720 North, Provo, and was heading to school using a trail near her apartment and the Provo River when she was taken into a nearby wooded area and raped, Provo Police Capt. Cliff Argyle said. He did not know which school she attends.

The incident happened very near to the woman's apartment, less than 15 feet from the trail and roughly 40 feet from another Branbury apartment, he said.

After she was raped, the woman was left by her attacker with a broken jaw, broken facial bones, a severe head injury and several missing teeth, police said. Because of the severity of the injuries, police believe the attacker either thought she was dead or would soon die.

But instead, the woman mustered enough strength to crawl about 30 feet to a sidewalk near the apartments, until people saw her and called police, Argyle said.

The woman had been beaten so badly that when an officer arrived, he had to kneel down and put his ear to her mouth to hear her, Argyle said.

The victim was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where Argyle said she remains in the intensive care unit. Based on information from the woman's roommates, police believe she left her apartment at around 3 or 4 p.m., which means the event likely occurred in broad daylight and the victim probably lay unconscious in the wooded area for several hours before moving to find help.

"She's a very strong-willed person," Argyle said. "First, that she survived, second, that she crawled 30 feet to be found, and then, that she was able to speak to an officer."

Because of the life-threatening nature of the injuries, police are saying it was an attempted homicide along with rape.

The victim described her attacker as a white male in his mid- to late-20s, of medium build with tattoos on his neck and arms that resembled letters, and she told police that she did not know him, Argyle said. At the time of the incident, the victim told police she remembers the man was wearing a baseball cap with a logo on the front and a black T-shirt with colors and printing on the front.

Detectives were able to gather some evidence at the scene and are hoping it can help them solve the case. Argyle said "flashers" are commonly reported in that area, but rapes are unusual.

"This affects everyone," he said. "You would like to think you could walk that trail at 3 or 4 in the afternoon and not have to worry."

Argyle said the woman's family is from Utah and is with her at the hospital.

Police are looking for information from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious on Wednesday. Argyle said police officers were questioning people on the trail this morning and even asked several homeless people who camp near the trail to watch for the attacker.

Anyone with information on this incident should contact provo police at 801-852-6210.

e-mail: ashaha@desnews.com