Police say rapist may have known his victim
Police say an alleged sexual assault over the weekend in the Mendenhall Valley probably was committed by someone who knew the woman.
"There were no signs of a break-in at the home ... although he could have gotten in through an unlocked door or window," said Capt. Tom Porter. "From information we received from the woman's boyfriend, it may have been an acquaintance of his.
"Although I can't say with certainty that this was not a random act, we have a pretty good idea that it was not."
Porter said the woman told police she was asleep in her bed Saturday night at her Jennifer Drive home. She woke up when she felt someone climb on top of her, said Porter. A man then placed a towel over the woman's face, threatened her, sexually assaulted her and left, Porter alleged.
The woman was home alone before she went to sleep, Porter said, and the alleged assailant was not armed. The woman did not appear to sustain any physical injuries from the attack, but police are awaiting results of tests taken at Bartlett Regional Hospital shortly after the attack, Porter said. The results are expected in about two weeks.
In the event the attack was random, police are advising residents to take extra care and lock windows and doors at night. He also said women should be aware of their surroundings and what is going on around them.
"That's just a good practice to get into anyway whether there is a threat or not," he said.
Melanie Plenda can be reached at mplenda@juneauempire.com.