Evidence Links Attack to Serial Rapist, Police Say

Authorities linked a sexual assault in the Belmont Heights area of Long Beach to a serial rapist that has been terrorizing east Long Beach since 1997, officials said Wednesday.

Undisclosed evidence collected in the June 26 rape of a 61-year-old woman confirms that her attacker is responsible for eight other rapes in Long Beach and two in the west Orange County area, Long Beach Police Officer Jana Blair said. Police also believe that the attacker is responsible for the attempted rape of a Los Alamitos woman in May.

The attacker is believed to be about 5 feet 10 with a medium build. He typically covers his victims’ faces during an attack. He generally rapes women he finds alone, and his victims’ ages range from 32 to 80.