MS Officials Look for Rapist

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Marshall County authorities are looking for a rapist. They say he attacked a woman who was stopped on the side of the road with car trouble. Now, police need your help to find her attacker.

It was under the dark of night, on the side of a narrow road in Marshall County, stuck with a flat tire…Then a man stopped to offer his help. In the end, she got no help. Instead, she was assaulted and police are hoping you can help catch the criminal.

Thursday morning offered new light on a crime detectives in Marshall County Mississippi are working to crack.

Major Kelly McMillen, detective with the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, says "we're putting in extra hours; we're doing whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this, to get it closed as quickly as possible."

Tuesday night, a woman was stalled on the side of this road with a flat tire. A man pulled up to help.

"She said he was a white man, 5 10, 5 11, had a beard and mustache, wore glasses, stringy hair," says McMillen.

After declining the man's help, the two turned their backs on each other. Then, the man attacked.

"Thrown up against the van, struck in the face a couple of times."

The woman told police the strange man removed her pants, and raped her on the side of the road, before getting in a truck and pulling off.

"She said the truck was loud and when it drove off, it went north on Highway 309."

Investigators say they left the crime scene tape here on purpose. They are hoping someone driving by will see this, and remember something.

Any information that would help us get this case closed, and the person responsible for this behind bars as quickly as possible would be greatly appreciated.

Marshall County detectives are applauding the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center for coming to the woman's aid so quickly.

"Very short waiting period, they did a tremendous job, and they've really helped us out a bunch."

The suspect is described as being a white male, roughly 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a beard and mustache driving a pick-up truck. Again, if you have any information, Marshall County detectives want you to call Crimestoppers, 1-800-729-2169.