The Vancouver Police Department is calling on the public to provide any and all information on an especially violent sexual assault on a 76-year-old woman.
Police believe the woman, who received life-threatening injuries from the attack, may have been in the area of Cathedral Park near Dunsmuir and Richards streets at the time. The VPD was called Thursday (Sept. 9) morning by staff at the victim's care home in downtown Vancouver. Investigators believe the assault may have taken place sometime between September 7 at 2 p.m. and September 9 at 11 a.m.
"This is a shocking case, and the victim's injuries are some of the worst we've seen," says constable Tania Visintin, VPD. “We don't yet know who did this or where it happened, so we're asking everyone to be vigilant until we find out more."
The suspect is described as a white man with a stocky build. He is between 35 and 40 years old. He has light to dark brown shaggy hair with a stubble beard. He is described as having wide-set eyes and a short neck. He was wearing a black or navy blue coloured jacket.
“The victim, who uses a motorized wheelchair, suffered significant bruising and discoloration on her face," adds Visintin. "Because of the extent of her injuries, she's been unable to tell us exactly what happened."
Anyone with information about this crime, or anyone who saw an elderly woman in a wheelchair with bruising on her face between Sept. 7 and Sept. 9, is asked to call VPD investigators at 604-717-0602.
