Attention: homicide, sex crimes, and robbery units. (VICAP Alert).

Any agency that has a case exhibiting similar modus operandi should contact the Fort Collins, Colorado, Police Department at 970-224-6090.

The Fort Collins, Colorado, Police Department is investigating a series of six sexual assaults that occurred near the campus of Colorado State University between May 2001 and August 2001. DNA obtained was entered into CODIS and compared to the existing DNA profiles. Comparisons determined that the DNA matched five sexual assaults and one homicide in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that occurred near major universities between June 1997 and August 1999. One of the Philadelphia assaults resulted in the death of a 23-year-old college student.

Crime Scenes

The offender targets multiresident complexes, allowing unimpeded egress from each crime scene. The offender enters through unsecured doors and windows or removes window screens. The suspect blindfolds the victim with materials found at the Scene. The assaults take place in the early morning hours while the victims are sleeping. Each complex is located a short distance from a major university. It is believed that the suspect surveilled each location prior to the assault either through employment opportunities or as a result of nocturnal actions.

Possible Suspect Information

The offender is described as a white or mixed-race male, 18 to 35 years of age, 5'7" to 6'2" in height, and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. He has brown collar-length hair, tan-colored skin, and emanates a discernable odor of stale cigarettes. During one of the assaults, the offender wore a polo shirt, khaki shorts, and a Quik Silver baseball cap.

Eyewitnesses to the most recent assault identified a late 1980s-model metallic light blue four-door sedan leaving the scene. The sedan resembled possibly a Buick Sentry or Toyota Camry.

The FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) has conducted a profile of the offender and ascertained that he is a Power Reassurance Rapist. He is of white or mixed race, above-average intelligence, not verbally confident with women, and may have had previous arrests for nuisance offenses, such as peeping, prowling, or possibly burglary. The offender may have connections to both Colorado and Pennsylvania.

Alert to Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies should bring this information to the attention of all crime analysis personnel and officers investigating homicides/crimes against persons, sex crimes, and robberies. Any agency with crimes similar to these should contact Detective Kim Cochran of the Fort Collins, Colorado, Police Department at 970-224-6090 or Tracy Miller of the FBI's Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) at 703-632-4168.