Serial rapist believed to have attacked again

Authorities believe a man who sexually assaulted women in Marquez, Bell County and Lavaca County may have raped another elderly woman in Falls County in the Marlin community.

Around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning October 10, authorities said the suspect broke into the woman’s house, on Highway 7 just outside of Marlin, through a garage door. He then raped the 78 year old woman and stole money before leaving her home.

The Leon County Sheriff’s Department was notified of the attack through the Bell County Sheriff’s Department. Leon County Sheriff Jerry Wakefield and Chief Investigator Victor Smith drove to Marlin.

Deputy Smith said “There are definitely similarities in the cases and we are in the process of getting DNA evidence to compare with data gathered in Leon County.”

According to Smith DNA evidence has linked the two Marquez assaults with at least one such attack in Lavaca County and there are multiple others which may have been committed by the same perpetrator.

Because the rapist strikes at night the women have been unable to provide a good description of the suspect. Authorities believe the man watches his victims for several days before he commits the assault.