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Sandra Yi ReportingA woman who is deaf was brutally attacked and raped by a man early yesterday morning. Police are still looking for a suspect.
Det. Dwayne Baird: "It's troubling to everyone of course, because she couldn't hear. She may not have been able to hear her attacker come up behind her."
The 50-year old victim is serving a part time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She may have been on her way to Temple Square.
The attack happened yesterday morning, around 5:45. The woman was walking behind the State Office of Education building at 5th South and 2nd East. That's when a man grabbed her and attacked her. Police say, she is deaf and can't speak, so she never heard her attacker coming up behind her. But she did put up a fight.
Police believe the victim was on her way to Temple Square. The woman took a shortcut behind a building. Police say that's where a man grabbed her. They say he hit her in the head, possibly with a rock, raped her, then ran off with her purse.
Det. Dwayne Baird: "Attacked her brutally. Virtually, there was quite a struggle back there."
News of the attack has some women on edge; many of them walk alone in the area.
Depa Matta: "I'm shocked. I totally didn't think it would happen here, not in this area."
Marissa Bench: "It makes me think differently about this neighborhood a little bit. It makes me want to be careful who I'm walking by and when I'm walking around."
But police say sexual assaults like this one are rare. They say people shouldn't be frightened, just alert. Their advice: stay in well-lit areas and sidewalks.
Det. Dwayne Baird: "These are situations that are often random, and when they occur, we're able to get on top of this in a quick fashion and be able to find out who these individuals are."
Police are looking for a white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a slim build. He has blonde hair and was wearing jeans and a light-colored shirt. His age is not known.
The victim told police the man looked familiar, that she's seen him in the area before.
Police say they do have at least one witness. If you have any information, call Salt Lake City Police.
