Woman stabbed in Brighton Park sex assault attempt takes to Facebook to warn others

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 24-year-old woman who was stabbed in a Brighton Park alley Tuesday night is speaking out to warn others about the attacker.

Victoria Rutkowski was walking in the 3000-block of West 36th Street around 7 p.m. when a man in a ski mask approached her from behind and tried to assault her.

"He just said to shush, be quiet and covered my mouth with his left hand," she said.

Rutkowski said she offered up her wallet, but the man tried to pull off her coat. She hit the man repeatedly with her purse before feeling pain in her back.

"I see blood coming down my leg and down my back," said Rutkowski.

That's when the offender ran away, and Rutkowski called for help.

"Somebody just stabbed me, I just got attacked, I don't know if he's coming back, please hurry," she said, describing her phone call with 911.

Rutkowski had been stabbed repeatedly in the lower back and the thigh by what police believe may have been a screw driver.

Hours after the attack, she took to social media to share her story with other women. The Facebook post has been shared over 4,000 times.

"It's a thing that's going to make me stronger," she said.

Rutkowksi said she knows her offender may never be caught, but she is overwhelmed by the support she has received in messages from women who say they've been touched.

"I just wanted to warn some people who live around the area to be careful," said Rutkowski.

No one was is in custody Thursday. Area Central detectives are investigating.