Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Man Sought For Garland County Rape

An 18-year-old Garland County woman was abducted and raped near Hot Springs, and officials believe the rapist may not have been from there.

Capt. Larry Sanders, with the Garland County Sheriff's Office, is asking for help in capturing the suspect in this case.

According to the incident report, Saturday, Oct. 28, around 10:30 p.m., the young woman was abducted at gunpoint from the parking lot of BJ's Food Plaza on Airport Road in the western part of the county.

She was taken to a secluded area below what is known as Sunshine Bridge on Highway 227, where she was raped, then left. Once the suspect was gone, the victim was able to flag down a passing car and get help.

What GCSO officials find troublesome is how the suspect didn't bother to try and disguise himself.

Sanders describes the suspect as being a black male in his early 20s. He is about 6-feet tall, and is either bald or has very little hair on his head.

The perpetrator told his victim not to worry about remembering what the truck he was driving looked like as it had been borrowed.

The truck was described as being a dark red, mid-sized pickup, possibly with an extended cab. It has a light-colored stripe on the side between 12 and 14 inches wide, and could also have bucket seats.

Sanders said it's possible the suspect wasn't from the Hot Springs area because he didn't try and disguise himself, and in fact, acted as if he were comfortable he wouldn't be seen in the area again.

Investigators in the case are asking anyone knowing someone fitting the above description with this type of vehicle to call the GCSO at 501-622-3690, or the 24-hour crime line number at 501-622-3674.

Anyone providing any information doesn't have to give their name.

However, the GCSO is offering a $1,000 reward, with the family and friends of the victim offering another $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the rapist.