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PROVO -- Provo police say they have physical evidence tying a suspect in the assault and rape of a Utah Valley University student to the crime.
Detectives are also releasing more information about the crime.
Shawn Leonard, 33, was serving jail time on a theft conviction earlier this month. He had just qualified for the Utah County Jail's Jail Industries Program, which allows inmates to work during the day and return to the jail at night.
On June 9, Leonard went out with the work crew and walked away from the job. He is accused of sexually assaulting and trying to kill a 19-year-old female student that same day.
Police say Leonard approached the woman suddenly on the walking trail next to Branbury Apartments in Provo and demanded money.
The woman tried calling for help, but police say Leonard covered her mouth. She then told him she had no money.
Detectives say Leonard told her to lie down and close her eyes so he could run away. She complied.
Leonard then allegedly placed a thick string around the woman's neck and dragged her into the trees.
While being drug, the woman lost consciousness. That's when police say Leonard sexually assaulted her.
"While she was unconscious, he picks up a large rock -- probably the best way I can describe that is probably a football-sized rock -- and strikes her in the head with it," said Provo police Capt. Cliff Argyle. "He also finds a piece of cement to strike her also."
The beating left the woman with serious injuries to her cheek, jaw, eye and teeth.
From that point, the woman went in and out of consciousness. She was finally able crawl out to the trail, where she was eventually discovered.
Officers found an ankle bracelet with Leonard's name on it at the crime scene. It was an ankle bracelet worn by Utah County Jail work release participants.
Police say they also collected other physical evidence linking Leonard at the crime scene. However, they would not say if that evidence includes DNA.
Provo officers say they're sure they have their man, but they still hope people in the area remain cautious.
"I think they can be comfortable in the fact the we took him off the streets and he is no longer there," Argyle said. "But they should not in any way put down their guard or feel any relaxed fashion that it could not possibly happen again."
Investigators are now recommending Leonard be charged with aggravated attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault.
As for the woman who was attacked, police say she is steadily improving.
Meanwhile, Leonard is also a suspect in a robbery that occurred in Provo on the evening of June 9, just hours after the student was attacked.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
