Is there a rapist at large in Bethesda?
That's the No. 1 question around town this morning, after a 21-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and dragged into the woods off the Capital Crescent Trail early last night.
Police responded at 7:13 PM to a call at a trail access point on Brookeway Drive in the Sumner neighborhood of Bethesda. They say the woman was jogging, and was struck from behind.
She then woke up in the woods. This official account did not give any suggestion that the victim or any witnesses saw the assailant.
However, as I reported when I was the first media outlet to break this story last night, the original, anonymous tipster who initially reported the attack to the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail told them the assailant was on a bicycle, with a basket attached to the front.
Yet that detail was not mentioned in later accounts. Nor was any description of the attacker released.
We hope to know more when police release their next statement today.
The attack is sure to spark more questions about trail safety. Personally, I don't think any woman - or any man! - should be on the CCT after dark. Especially alone. That is extremely dangerous.
Stay tuned for further updates.
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