Exclusive: Bronzeville sex assault victim speaks about attack

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A woman who was attacked and sexually assaulted on her porch in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood spoke exclusively to ABC7 and has a message for all women.

The suspect, who is still on the loose, wore a partial ski mask, gloves, and did other things that lead the victim to believe that he has attacked women before. She wants to warn other women to be very careful, even in the places where they feel most comfortable.

"To the other women, I just say watch out, be careful, watch around you because I seen nothing," the woman said.

On Sunday just before 6:00 p.m., the woman says she stepped on her back porch to smoke a cigarette, but didn't realize someone was waiting, and he came up behind her.

"I didn't fight because of what he said, so, I didn't fight. You know, he said one thing to me: 'If you scream, I'll kill you.' I did not move. I just wanted it to be over," said the woman, who is not being identified.

The woman says she was sexually assaulted when the offender dragged her into her apartment from the porch.

"It's awful. It's an awful experience. I never... it's hard to believe that it happened to me, but it did," she said.

Chicago police issued a community alert after the assault on East 44th Street. The suspect is described as over six feet and has tattoo of a star on right side of his neck, possibly with an "S" inside the star.

Residents in the area say they are troubled by the report.

"I think it's a shame. I think by you not being able to sit on your porch peacefully, and somebody's bothering you - it's a shame," said Cecelia Troup.

As for the victim, she tells us she is trying to move past her fear.

"I was so scared to go get my son yesterday, I had to pick him up from school and take him to school. I was so scared, but I'm not going to let him take my life away from me and I'm not going to allow that," she said.

The victim said that initially, she was so afraid that she didn't want to tell anyone about the attack, but called police at her husband's urging. Now, she is glad that the story is out so that other women can be aware.