Victim Tells Of Sexual Assault Attempt In Tulsa Church Parking Lot

Tulsa police are on the lookout for a man who has assaulted two women at separate churches in less than a half-mile from each other.

Tuesday, April 8th 2014, 6:08 pm

By: News On 6


Tulsa police are on the lookout for a man who has assaulted two women at separate churches in less than a half-mile from each other. The first happened in late March but police learned about it after we aired a report on the other assault on April 1st.

The victim said she was just doing what she always does, getting her things together after parking her car, when a strange man grabbed the back of her head and yanked her out of her car.

"It was just a bad nightmare kind of feeling," she said.

The victim didn't want her name used, so we'll call her "Sara".

It was March 24th when she was attacked by a man in the Plainview Baptist Church parking lot. As soon as the man grabbed her head, "Sara" said she somehow activated her car horn on her key fob and the man took off.

4/2/2014 Related Story: Tulsa Police Seek Suspect Who Assaulted Woman In Church

"It horrified me and made me realize that God just protected me," said "Sara."

She was assaulted eight days before a similar attack on another woman at another church just 1,500 feet down the street. Police say the man walked up to a woman in the parking lot of Adventist Fellowship Church and asked to see the pastor.

Security camera pictures show what happened when they got inside. The man grabbed the woman's arm and began dragging her, before eventually running away.

"Sara" said she never reported her attack because she was embarrassed, that was until she saw our report.

"But then after I saw that story, then I thought, 'Oh my gosh. He was going to rape me,'" "Sara" said.

The two churches are near Eastgate Metroplex and Eastland Plaza.

Police say the man didn't appear to have a car, so they think he may be familiar with the area. They're asking anyone who works or shops there and they see someone suspicious to give them a call.

Detective Rod Russo, with the Tulsa Police, said, "If he's done two of these I'm worried that he's going to do a third one in that area."

"Sara" said she's coming forward because she doesn't want anyone else to go through what she experienced.

"He needs to be stopped. Life should be lived and enjoyed. We should not be living in fear," she said.

The suspect is described as a man in his early 30's who is slender but muscular.

If you were in the area on March 24th and April 1st and saw someone who matched that description police ask you to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

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