The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 16-22 years of age, about 6 feet tall with a slender build. The man also has medium-length dreadlocks and a dark brown complexion. The man was described as wearing a black shirt, baggy, low blue jeans, a white or tan belt with a rectangular belt buckle and also wearing white gym shoes.
Chicago police are reminding people living in this area to remain aware of this situation and to alert neighbors in the area about the crime.
Two victims, a 43-year old woman and a 22-year-old woman, were sexually assaulted while sleeping in their residence after the suspect gained entry through an open kitchen window in the area of South Emerald Avenue.
The man also attempted to assault an 11-year-old girl, but was frightened away.
A 14-year-old female victim was also assaulted shortly after the second assault attempt, which occurred in the area of 1000 block of South Peoria Street while the victim walking to the bus stop heading to school.
The offender grabbed the victim from behind by the mouth of the alley and placed a knife to the victim's throat. The offender then escorted the victim to a nearby yard where the victim was assaulted before fleeing the scene.
The 22-year-old woman, who we are not identifying, was attacked by an intruder in her South Side home around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday. Her 43-year-old mother was also the victim of a sexual assault."Yesterday was the worst day, what you think won't happen to you happened to you," she said. "She started screaming my name. I ran back there in her room and he was like on top with a knife up to her."
Despite efforts to fight the man off, he sexually assaulted both mother and daughter using a knife he grabbed from their kitchen. The offender broke into their home by using a garbage can from the alley to climb into a kitchen window.
An hour later, he tried to strike again at a different home but was scared off by a barking dog and a girl screaming. The suspect fled, but then dragged a 14-year-old girl into a yard around 7 a.m. He sexually assaulted her using the same kitchen knife he stole from the first victim's home, police said. By the end of the day, a man was in custody. The 22-year-old victim said she positively identified the man from a lineup.
"The other ones didn't fit the description, but one person," she said.
But police released their person of interest Wednesday, saying he'd been cleared and was not involved in the attacks. The victims are angry and community activists are worried about retaliation.
"I feel like justice is going to be served one way or another by police or without police," the victim said.
If you have any information about these incidents, please call the Area South Bureau of Detectives.
