Police Seek Help to Solve Brutal Robbery

Authorities are appealing to the public for help in apprehending a man who sexually assaulted a North Hills woman and left her husband comatose in a brutal robbery in August.

According to Det. Gary Barthelmess of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division, the robber is described as a Latino 25 to 30 years old, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7, of medium build.

“He has numerous tattoos on his chest, stomach and arms,” Barthelmess said, noting that the assailant’s body art includes large letters or numbers across his abdomen.

The assaults occurred at about 5 a.m. Aug. 26 in the 9700 block of Burnet Avenue, after the suspect broke open a door on the side of the couple’s home. Investigators believe the 57-year-old husband surprised the suspect and was struck repeatedly in the head with a weapon. They have been unable to interview him.

The man’s 55-year-old wife was subsequently beaten and sexually assaulted. The woman was released after being hospitalized for a week, but the man remains comatose in “very critical condition,” Barthelmess said.

After about 45 minutes in the home, the suspect fled with a camcorder and some jewelry.

Anyone with information regarding the attack is urged to call police at (818) 756-8291 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or (818) 756-8285 after business hours.