Fort Valley police searching for serial rapist

The Fort Valley Police Department joined forces with Peach County Sheriff’s Office and its drug unit, along with the Fort Valley State University Police Department, to make up the Sexual Assault task force.

Authorities  believe the same man is responsible for the crimes.

A rape was reported on April 2 to Fort Valley police. On April 8 at 4:30 a.m., a woman reported a burglary after finding a man in her bedroom. He broke into her Rayfield Wright Street home.

One of the suspect’s victims, Teela Woodson, recalled when she was attacked in February. She says her assailant fits the same description as the serial rapist described in April incidents.

“I was laying in my bed at like five o’clock in the morning,” said Woodson. “I woke up to a dude standing beside my bed. He pulled out a gun and he was like if I said anything he was going to shoot me.”

The 21-year-old Fort Valley State University junior fought off her attacker and he ran away.

Fort Valley Police say officers are looking for a man 5 feet, 6 to 10 inches tall and weighs between 130 to 150 pounds. The serial rapist was wearing dark clothing and a red bandana to cover his face during his attacks in April, according to police.

“In the vast majority of the cases there’s been no forced entry, doors were left unlocked and the victims did not have their cell phones close by,” said Fort Valley Public Safety Director Lawrence Spurgeon.

Authorities are making a simple request to Fort Valley residents: lock your doors and report any suspicious people in your neighborhood to police.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Fort Valley Police at (478) 825-3384.