District 7 Captain Kelley McCormick was at Monday night’s Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association meeting to answer residents’ concerns following the sexual assault that occurred in that neighborhood two weeks ago.
McCormick was on hand to quell rumors surrounding the case.
“I can not go into specifics about the case because it is an ongoing investigation,” said McCormick. “There are a lot of uncertainties right now and detectives in the sexual assault unit are working with detectives at District 7 to piece together what has occurred.”
One rumor that was floating around the neighborhood is that there is a rapist on the loose targeting JetBlue stewardesses.
“That simply is not true and we don’t know how that rumor got started,” said McCormick.
Another rumor was that the assault was somehow linked to the brutal assault of a Webster Street woman last year. In that assault the woman was left for dead in a vacant lot on Webster Street bloodied and naked.
Again, McCormick said the two cases are unrelated.
“The one has nothing to do with the other,” said McCormick.
McCormick did give advice to residents on how not to be a victim.
“Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and do not use devices liked an iPhone when walking alone,” said McCormick.
McCormick also said that the District 7 police would also be more than happy to conduct a free self-defense class for residents in the area.
The incident occurred on August 27 at 6:00 a.m. when officers from District 7 were called to the McKay School on Cottage Street in East Boston. On arrival, officers discovered a woman in her forties suffering from facial trauma. Boston EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital for additional medical treatment.
The victim told police two men forced her into a vehicle and sexually assaulted her. She described her attackers as Hispanic males. The first suspect is described as a male, approximately 30 to 40 years of age, with a heavy build and a mustache. The second suspect is described as a male in his twenties with a thin build.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have been in the Jeffries Point neighborhood in the early morning hours of August 27 to contact the Boston Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit with information. Police are actively looking for information regarding a vehicle that may have approached the victim while she was pulling a small piece of luggage on wheels. Police has distributed a picture of the luggage – which is described as blue and gray in color.
Community members looking to assist this investigation are encouraged to contact 617-343-4400, the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
Boston Police are also offering personal safety tips for women in response to the attack. Police are telling women to always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.