Sexual assault suspect on run after tying up woman in The Woodlands, deputies say

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Montgomery County sheriff's detectives are searching for the man who sexually assaulted a woman at a Woodlands apartment complex. The attack happened early Thursday morning at the Trailpoint Complex on South Millbend Drive.

"I was fast asleep in my bed," the woman said. "The first thing I was aware of was there was someone on me."

This woman said the pre-dawn darkness obscured her attacker's face. However, she said the terror being attacked in the middle of the night spurred her to fight back.

"He took my sheet and put it all the way over my head and started pulling it from behind, trying to suffocate me," she said. "I couldn't breathe, I was gasping for as much air as I could."

Sheriff's detectives believe the rapist got in through an unlocked patio door to the woman's first floor apartment. This woman does not believe she was picked at random.

"This person must have been watching me and knew that I was alone," she said. "I really thought that I was going to die and the whole time I just kept praying. That's all I could do, I just kept praying in my head. Just, 'please God, please help me overcome this. Please save me, please don't let me die like this.'"

The woman said after the attack was over, the man only said four words before leaving.

"(He said) 'No police, no police,' and it was with an accent, like he spoke Spanish," she said.

This woman said based on the tone of her attacker's voice she believes he was young. She also said he was wearing a dark T-shirt, black pants and white tennis shoes.

As detectives continued searching for clues at the complex, other residents were questioning why they were not notified of the attack by management.

"I should know because I live on the first floor and I'm very concerned," said Hillary Duque. "Their not telling us is not OK."

Residents told KPRC the only notice they received was a flier on their front door warning that some crimes had occurred in the area. The flier then listed several safety tips residents should follow.

"It was pretty vague," said Jessie Nearhoof. "I had no idea. Being a woman, that's pretty scary."

When we tried to speak with managers about residents' concerns, we were told we need to speak with an official with Resource Residential, which owns the complex.

"Resource Residential is aware of reported incidents at Trailpoint at the Woodlands and is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate. Immediately after being notified of the situation, Resource Residential added extra security patrols at Trailpoint at the Woodlands. Those additional patrols will continue throughout the investigation until the police have assured us of a resolution to the situation. The safety of our residents is our top priority and Resource Residential is prepared to implement any recommendations made by the authorities to keep our communities safe. All inquiries about the investigation should be directed to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department," wrote Jenna Strobl, a senior marketing manager for Resource Residential.

If you know anything about this sexual assault you are asked to call Detective J. Blackwell at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5876. You can also call Crimestoppers at 713-222-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Award winning investigative journalist who joined KPRC 2 in July 2000. Husband and father of the Master of Disaster and Chaos Gremlin. “I don’t drink coffee to wake up, I wake up to drink coffee.”