DETECTIVES SEEK HELP IN RAPE-ROBBERY CASE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Sheriff's officials issued an appeal Tuesday for public assistance in identifying three young men who gang-raped and robbed a 17-year-old Palmdale girl nearly two months ago in a Lancaster City Park restroom.

The girl told investigators the trio followed her into a restroom in the park's southwest area, held a knife to her throat and assaulted her around 10:45 a.m. Feb. 12.

``We've come to an end on all of our leads,'' said Detective John Mayfield of the Juvenile Investigation Bureau. ``We just ran out of direction to go with this.''

Detectives on Tuesday released composite drawings created from the girl's description and asked anyone with information about the rape or the men to contact the Sheriff's Department.

The girl described all three assailants as in their late teens or 20s, and said each weighed more than 200 pounds.

One suspect was described as a Latino, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 9, weighing 280 to 300 pounds, and 20 to 27 years old. The second was described as Latino, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 9, 200 to 225 pounds, and age 20 to 27. The third was described as African-American, 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10, 200 to 225 pounds, and 18 to 24 years old.

The teen, who told officials she had been taking a walk through the park when she stopped at the restroom, said one of the men held a knife to her throat. Before the three left, they took her portable CD player, a silver metal chain and gold earrings.

``She remembered one of the suspects say, `We got to go now,' '' Mayfield said. ``She doesn't know why they left. She had never seen them before.''

After the attack, the girl went to a nearby car dealership, where she told someone to call the Sheriff's Department.

``This is pretty tragic,'' Mayfield added. ``She was pretty scared.''

Anyone with information is asked to call Mayfield at [phone].

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Photo: (1-3) Sheriff's detectives have issued these sketches to help locate three rape-robbery suspects.