The Northwest Serial Rapist of Columbus is still at large, but Columbus Police Sgt. David Pelphrey said he hopes this will not continue for much longer.
During a press conference Tuesday, Pelphrey said the Columbus Division of Police is receiving a good deal of help from the public and other sources, making an arrest more likely.
“I believe if this guy is a serial rapist … he will offend again,” Pelphrey said. “He won’t be able to control himself.”
This week, investigators received close to 300 tips from callers throughout the Columbus area.
Tips ranged from callers who were scared because they heard their dogs barking in the backyard to more legitimate concerns, such as prowling.
Pelphrey applauded the community response and called the public’s willingness to donate time and space for police-sponsored self-defense classes “phenomenal.”
Despite self-defense precautions, though, rapes occur daily in Columbus, most of them perpetrated by acquaintances.
“We’ve had serials before, but the majority are acquaintance rapes,” Pelphrey said.
Pelphrey said police have about 75 suspects this week.
Previous suspects were released because they were in jail when some of the rapes happened. Others did not match the physical description of the rapist.
When asked about the possibility of using cell phone towers to identify the rapist, a suggestion from cell phone expert Ben Levitan, Pelphrey would acknowledge only that the police were using unorthodox methods.
“We have people exploring those angles,” he said.
Pelphrey said it is important for women not to let their guard down.
“Things instilled by fear should become routine,” he said.
Locking doors, having someone to walk with outside and letting friends know who is home are all good ways to reduce a possible attack.
Matt Hancharick can be reached at [email protected].
