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Seattle's 'Beacon Hill Groper' may have struck again

10:24 PM PDT on Monday, March 24, 2008

KING5.com Staff & Bernard Choi / KING 5 News

Video: Bus stop groper claims 25th victim
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SEATTLE - The so-called “Beacon Hill Groper” may have struck again.

It was a terrifying ordeal for the Seattle woman whom we are not identifying. She had just gotten off work as a janitor and was walking home at about 2 a.m. in the 4200 block of South Webster, when a man attacked her from behind, grabbing her private areas.

The 55-year-old woman said when she cried for help, the attacker covered her mouth and put an elbow to her chest to cut off her air supply. He then pushed her to the ground and continued fondling her.

"I no can breathe, I no can breathe… I no more air. No more nothing for me," she said.

Seattle police say this disturbing attack fits the pattern of the so-called Beacon Hill groper, who has assaulted two dozen women, primarily targeting Asians, near bus stops in South Seattle.

Just last week, police held a community meeting to alert residents.

"It has been very difficult to get descriptions because he attacks people from behind,” Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said.

Detectives say they're checking surveillance footage of Metro buses, local businesses and even red light cameras to look for leads.

The latest victim says her ordeal lasted probably 10-15 minutes, until a neighbor came out and scared off the attacker. She's nursing a few minor scratches and some major mental wounds.

"I'm very scared," she said. "All night, my heart jumped."

The victim said the attacker took off when somebody saw what was happening. The attacker jumped in a car and sped away. The witness was able to get the license number of the car.

In this attack, as in many of the others, the victim did not get a good look at the suspect as he attacked her from behind. But the general description matches the others: A black man in his 20s or 30s who is at least 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds.

If you have information, you are asked to call the Seattle Police Department's sexual assault unit at (206) 684-5575.

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