On Thursday, police announced the City of Philadelphia's Mayor's Office issued a $10,000 reward for the apprehension and conviction of a man wanted in the home invasion and sexual assault of a woman in South Philadelphia Monday.
"We hope that that reward will encourage people in the South Philadelphia community to assist us in identifying and apprehending this offender and ridding this neighborhood of this threat," said Philadelphia Police Captain John Darby.
Lt. Anthony McFadden outlined a new time line for the crime and unveiled new surveillance photos of the suspect.
McFadden said the investigation has revealed that the suspect may have entered the home along the 1800 block of South Rosewood Street Monday, taken items, including the resident's car keys, then left the home in the victim's car. McFadden said new information points to the suspect then returning to the home an hour later to confront the 35-year-old female resident, demand money and ultimately sexually assault her.
On Wednesday, Police released surveillance video in hopes it would help them track down the suspect.
The video, McFadden explained, was taken between the time that the suspect broke into the victim's home and returned to sexually assault her.
The video shows the suspect in the victim's hatchback. You see him park in front of a fire hydrant a few blocks from the victims home at 4:51 a.m. Monday. You then see the man – who appears to be in his 20s and stands between 6-feet and 6-feet, 2-inches tall who was wearing black pants, a black long-sleeved zip-up jacket and a hat – get out of the vehicle and appear to quickly look around before reaching back into the vehicle.
The man emerges from the vehicle then crosses the street. He then is seen on another angle heading down the street as a white sport utility vehicle appears to be looking for parking.
The man, who is described as a black male, 20-30 years of age, 6'0"-6'2" medium build wore a mask, wool hat, black pants, black long-sleeved zip up sweatshirt and red gloves, can then be seen walking away.
New still photos of the suspect were taken in the area as the suspect left the residence on foot the second time, Lt. McFadden said.
Someone may have tried to break into the same home where the assault occurred on Wednesday morning, sources with knowledge of the investigation said.
Police have yet to say if that reported attempted burglary is connected to the earlier attack.
Police did, however, connect an earlier sex assault on a 35-year-old mother of two inside her South Philly home back in March to this case. During that incident on S Chadwick Street the suspect was also wearing red gloves and choked the woman, police said.
"This individual is dangerous and he may be looking through the neighborhood and has the time to case the area and look for any weaknesses in the neighborhood in regards to security," said Philadelphia Police Captain John Darby.
If you have any information on the suspect's identity, please contact Philadelphia Police. If you spot him, police want you to call 911 immediately.
