Trust Fund Set Up for Girl Raped at Park

A year ago Monday, a 9-year-old girl was raped at Serrano Creek Community Park. To mark the anniversary of that tragedy, two anti-crime activists will entrust to the victim the money they collected to post a reward to help find the attacker.

Resident Michele Jones and businessman Patrick Carrigan-Smith said the $4,400 they raised will go into a fund to be available to the girl when she turns 18. A lawyer is handling the trust, they said.

“We want to let her know that there are people out there who really care,” Jones said. “Hopefully, this will help her later on.”

Another $3,400 raised by the Lake Forest II Master Homeowners Assn. will stand as a reward until the attacker is apprehended.

After the child was attacked, Jones and Carrigan-Smith led a countywide search to find the rapist. Carrigan-Smith, who owns a print shop, ran off hundreds of thousands of copies of a composite drawing of the suspect, while Jones distributed and posted the police drawings.

The severity of the crime and community concern inspired them to continue their campaign.

“I have small children, and I am really sick and tired of stuff like this happening,” Jones said.

The girl was raped at dusk on Oct. 21, 1995, while walking home from a local store.

Jones said the victim, along with two younger siblings, are doing well with foster parents, who took them in February after their father committed suicide and their mother suffered personal problems.