What to Know
- A woman was found brutally beaten and raped in an outdoor stairwell in Queens Monday morning, law enforcement sources say
- The NYPD released new surveillance images and video of the man they are looking to talk to who could be behind the heinous sex attack
- Cops have broadened their canvas in search of surveillance video; they're also looking into registered sex offenders in the area
Cops are still looking for the mystery attacker in the horrifying beating and rape of 52-year-old woman who was left unconscious in a pool of blood at the bottom of an outdoor stairwell in Queens, according to law enforcement sources.
But they do know there's a man they want to speak to about it. Investigators released new surveillance images and video of a person of interest they're looking to speak to in connection with Monday's heinous sex attack near 72nd Road and Kissena Boulevard in Kew Gardens Hills.
Top police brass held a news briefing at their Manhattan headquarters on Wednesday, urging the public to reach out with any information on the man seen in the video and announcing a $10,000 reward to help solve the case.
"We find this to be an extremely violent and random attack at a time of day we don't normally see something like this," said NYPD SVU Captain Elisa Anders.
The woman's condition has marginally improved since she was taken to a hospital after she was found on the stairs, the sources say. However, she remains unconscious and in serious condition.
She had been unconscious in the hospital, intubated to help with her breathing, through the day Monday and also had injuries to her neck and bruises to the head, according to law enforcement sources.
The woman's pants were removed in the attack, and detectives were also seen removing a condom wrapper from the scene.
Neighbor Robert Soto said he saw the woman's children and husband Tuesday in tears.
Local
"She came to me and asked me, 'Do you know what happened to my mom?'" said Soto. "'Yeah, I know what happened, I'm sorry for that'... She said her mother is in critical condition. She cried, and the husband cried, too."
"I can't understand it," said another neighbor, Troy Jordan. "There are schools, there's people walking their dogs, there's all kinds of people here. How could something like this happen? Nobody heard a scream, nobody heard a shout. Nobody heard nothing."
The NYPD says they're looking into registered sex offenders in the area.
"I am dumbfounded by it, I really am," said neighbor Anthony Giannotta.
"It's kind of shocking in this neighborhood. This doesn't happen," said Julio Suarez.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact authorities.
