The Wichita Police Department (WPD) has arrested a suspect involved in a sexual assault and has located a second survivor from a previous incident.
On November 19, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., a woman was walking home in the 500 block of W. Skinner when a man approached her in a red Toyota Corolla. The suspect solicited her, offering money for sexual acts. When she did not respond and continued walking, he threatened to harm her. The situation escalated, and he struck her with his vehicle, dragged her inside, and forcibly drove her to an alley in the 1600 block of S. Waco.
The suspect subjected the woman to a violent sexual assault before returning her to her residence. He photographed her ID to obtain her address and issued death threats should she report the crime.
The woman noted the suspect's license plate and provided officers with detailed information after calling 911. Officers quickly responded and used Flock camera technology to identify a vehicle that matched the suspect's description.
Further investigation, in collaboration with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, connected the vehicle to a relative of the suspect in Haysville.
The investigation by the WPD, including the Domestic Violence Intervention Response Team (DVIRT), led to the arrest of the suspect.
On November 26, 2024, investigators convened with community partners, including the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center (WASAC), crime analysts, Officers from the Broadway Corridor Team (BWCT), and all Patrol Bureaus, to discuss this recent case of stranger rape.
During this meeting, the BWCT recalled a case from October, where a survivor had been assaulted under similar circumstances. Familiar with the survivor, BWCT officers located her in the area of South Broadway and conducted a follow-up interview. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the incident, confirming that the suspect was driving the exact vehicle as in the recent case.
The WPD is now conducting additional follow-up investigations, including testing all evidence items for DNA and continuing to search for more survivors.
Formal charges are pending.