Man wanted in woman's beating, rape

Donavan Rankins accused of attacking woman on F.M. 1960

HOUSTON – Deputies are searching for a man who beat and raped a woman on a northwest Harris County street.

Donavan Rankins, 22, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault.

Harris County sheriff's deputies said Rankins attacked a woman who was walking alone near the intersection of Mills Road and F.M. 1960 on Jan. 29.

Investigators said the woman was tackled from behind, wrestled into a ditch, beaten and raped. Rankins also threatened to kill her if she screamed, officials said.

The woman's face was covered in blood when deputies got to her.

The woman was taken to a hospital, where DNA samples were taken. Those samples were run through a national database and matched Rankins, deputies said. His DNA was taken during a previous arrest.

The victim picked Rankins out of a photo lineup, officials said.

Rankins has not been arrested. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.