Philly police are trying to figure out if the same man strangled two women in Kensington and choked and raped a third.
The two murder victims were strangled in the last two weeks and in both cases, their half-naked bodies were left in vacant lots less than a mile apart.
Now police say a third woman survived being choked and raped in the same spot where the latest murder victim was found -- and her attack occurred before either of the killings. She approached police on Monday when they were canvassing the neighborhood.
Homicide detectives are trying to figure out if the cases are connected.
On November 3, Elaine Goldberg, a nursing student at Gwynedd Mercy College, was killed. Her body was found in a lot at 2800 Ruth Street.
Ten days later, Nicole Piacentini's body was found in a lot at 1907 E. Cumberland. Both women were choked to death.In that very same lot sometime in October, the third victim told police she was choked and raped.
She went willingly to the lot with a man, according to police. He choked her until she passed out and the next thing she remembers is waking up and realizing she'd been sexually assaulted, according to police.
The woman was able to give police a description of her attacker. Police say right now they have no physical or forensic evidence to link the murders and attack, but because of public concern, they felt compelled to put out the composite sketch of the third victim's attacker.
She describes him as a Black or Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s. He's between 5-foot-8 and 6-foot with a medium complexion.
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If you have any information that can help police, call Philly homicide at 215-686-3334.
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