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Police release phrases spoken by serial rapist

Charlottesville Police released two phrases last Friday allegedly uttered by the serial rapist to two of his victims.

The police got the statements from two of the six women in Charlottesville allegedly victimized by the rapist since 1997, and have released them based on the advice of behavioral profilers, according to Charlottesville Police Capt. J.P. "Chip" Harding.

The two statements are: "Okay, I'm happy now. I can leave" and "Don't be calling the police now, ya hear?"

Harding said that police have released the statements because they may help bring forth new information from the community.

University Police Capt. Michael Coleman said if the rapist is caught, assistance from the community will have played a role.

He said in an average week University Police receive two or three calls from concerned citizens who may have information regarding the serial rapist.

Charlottesville Police began distributing a questionnaire Nov. 3 to the Willoughby community, located on 5th Street, where a sexual assault occurred the morning of Nov. 11, 2002, Harding said. The purpose of the questionnaire is to identify outsiders who were in the community that morning, such as anyone working in the community.

Harding said he hopes the questionnaire will open new leads. He said investigators have specifically targeted Willoughby because it is a stable, residential community and the assault there took place early in the morning during daylight hours.

"We're trying to refocus attention on the case," Harding said.

In the past year, Charlottesville police have eliminated more than 300 suspects in the serial rapist case, Harding said.

Investigators eliminated many of these suspects using DNA evidence.

"We're fortunate to have DNA in this case," Harding said.

Currently, police are looking for 87 suspects and estimate they have received over 1,000 leads and tips, police said in a press conference Friday.

Richard Hudson, Charlottesville police detective and executive director of Jefferson Area Crimestoppers, said that if students think they have seen the serial rapist, they should call the Charlottesville police for an immediate response.

Coleman described a program organized by the University Police called "Workers on Watch."

"Workers on Watch" encourages University employees working at night to keep watch for, and to report, criminal activities.

"People working at night often see things that otherwise wouldn't be seen," Coleman said.

Harding also warned students not to hesitate to report suspicious persons.

"It's not racist to report a suspicious person," Coleman said. "We've encouraged students over and over to do this."

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