Police Seeking Residents' Help in Recent Sex Assaults in Germantown

GERMANTOWN, Md. - Montgomery County Police officers spread out through the Beaconfield Terrace townhome community Tuesday night asking residents to help them solve two recent attacks on women living alone in the community.

"Give us a call. If it's nothing, it's nothing," said Detective Patrick McNerney. "It could be that one gem we're looking for."

In late June, a 68-year-old woman was attacked in her bedroom in the middle of the night by a man who apparently entered her home through an unlocked door.

"It creeped me out," said the victim's neighbor who would only identify herself as Carolyn. "Not only the horrific thing of what would happen or what the attack was, but the idea that it will ruin someone's life forever."

On August 22, an 86-year-old woman was attacked in her bedroom at the Churchill Senior Living Center directly across Father Hurley Blvd. Police say entry was made through the victim's unlocked ground floor window.

"Everybody in the neighborhood is angry," said Denny Lewis. "We're all very angry because this is a very nice neighborhood and it's a violation on so many different levels."

Montgomery County Police call their investigation a top priority.

"A stranger breaking into a residence at night, sexually assaulting the female inside, that's about as dangerous a situation as you can ever really run across,’ Detective McNerney explained.

Both victims helped investigators come up with composite sketches of their attacker. And while the images don't look like the same person, police say the same man may be responsible for both crimes.