The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is warning women to keep their eyes and ears open after two attempted abductions in an affluent Pickerington neighborhood.
Sheriff Dave Phalen says the first attack happened just before midnight on July 20 at a home in the Violet Meadows neighborhood of Blacklick Road.
The victim told investigators she was sitting on her back patio just before midnight, when the suspect crept up behind her and placed her in a chokehold. The woman told deputies she grabbed a cigarette that was burning in an ashtray and smashed it in the attacker’s face. He took off running across her back yard.
Phalen says the attempted abduction appeared to be an isolated incident until exactly two months later.
On September 20, a second victim who lives within walking distance from the first attack scene told sheriff’s investigators she was removing decorations from her home at about 10 p.m. That's when a male, who she thought was her husband, came up behind her and wrapped their arms around her. The victim told deputies the suspect pinned her arms to her body, lifted her off the ground, and tried to carry her into the woods. She began kicking and screaming for help. The woman reported that the suspect forcefully threw her to the ground and ran away.
Phalen says he’s increasing patrols in the neighborhood and says detectives are still working to develop a person of interest in the case. Phalen says it doesn’t appear the attacker is interested in breaking into homes or stealing property. He says the man is clearly targeting the victims.
The sheriff describes the attacks as rare and brazen. He’s concerned the suspect could become more aggressive and violent if he strikes again. The victims describe their attacker as young, in his late teens or early 20s and weighing about 150 pounds.
Investigators are urging anyone living in the area to keep their eyes and ears open and report any suspicious behavior to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
10TV’s Maureen Kocot will have the latest on the investigation in a live report at noon, including home surveillance video that shows a shadowy figure running from the scene of the crime.