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PROVO -- The search is on for a rapist in Provo who brutally attacked a young woman at an apartment complex near Brigham Young University.
Thursday night, the 19-year-old victim gave police a more detailed description of her attacker. The man is described as being in his mid- to late-20s, with a medium build.
The woman said the man was wearing a baseball cap with a logo on the front and a black T-shirt with colors or printing on the front.
The man also has tattoos on his neck and arms. The woman said the tattoos on his arms featured letters and picture elements.
The woman initially couldn't give much information about her attacker because of the severe injuries to her face and mouth. She suffered fractures to her face and jaw, and lost several teeth. She listed in serious condition in the ICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
The woman was walking along a shortcut trail from The Branbury Apartments at 449 W. 1720 North near the Provo River.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Provo Police Dispatch at (801) 852-6210 or Detective Taylor at (801) 852-7328.
She apparently left her apartment just after 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Police believe she was attacked shortly thereafter, not far from her apartment.
Capt. Cliff Argyle with the Provo Police Department said, "It is in broad daylight, so it is a very brazen attack for someone to attack that close to a residence."
Some passers-by found the victim around 6:30 p.m. after she managed to crawl to a sidewalk from out of the wooded area where she was assaulted, a distance of approximately 30 feet.
Police say the attacker left her for dead and believe she would have died if she hadn't crawled out into the open.
"Considering the extent of her injuries and the wooded area she was left in, it wouldn't be easy to see her," said Argyle. "I would say that whoever this individual was that caused these injuries to her did leave her for dead."
Detectives spent the morning looking through the area for evidence and anything that could lead them to a suspect.
Police say homeless men are known to frequent the area, and detectives questioned all of them living in transient camps along the trail early Thursday morning to see if any of them saw something suspicious Wednesday afternoon.
Police aren't sure where the woman attends school but say she did have books with her.
KSL contacted The Branbury Apartment complex about the attack and was told it did not happen on their property and they had no comment.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Provo Police Dispatch at (801) 852-6210 or Detective Taylor at (801) 852-7328.
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Story compiled with contributions from Sam Penrod and Randall Jeppesen.
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