Woman raped in Fairmount Park

Police said they have increased patrols in Fairmount Park following the rape of a woman early last night as she prepared to go for a jog on Forbidden Drive.

Police, who called a news conference to provide details of the attack this afternoon, said there was no indication the assault marked a return of the so-called Fairmount Park rapist.

According to police, the woman was in a parking lot near the intersection of Bells Mills Road and Forbidden Drive when a man came up behind her.

He placed something against her back and said "Don't scream, I have a gun."

The man forced her into a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her and then ran away.

The victim drove herself to Chestnut Hill Hospital.

Police were only able to give out a partial description of the rapist, who they said was wearing white gardening-type gloves, dirty jeans and brown work boots.

The victim, they said, has been too distraught to speak to investigators from the SVU unit.

Anyone who was in the area last night is asked to call 215-685-3251 or 215-685-3252

The so-called Fairmount Park rapist has been linked to four attacks in the city's parks, most recently in August 2007.

All the victims were alone at the time of their assaults.

On July 13, 2003, the rapist assaulted and strangled Rebecca Park, 30, a fourth-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Her battered body was found in a shallow grave covered with leaves about 30 feet from a trail near Conshohocken Avenue. She was found clothed in only a sports bra and running shoes, police said.

After raping two other women that year, the attacker disappeared for four years and reemerged almost a year ago when his DNA was linked to the Aug. 11, 2007, rape of a 29-year-old woman in Pennypack Park in Northeast Philadelphia.

Police have described the attacker as a muscular, dark-complected male with a short jawline, a goatee, and bushy eyebrows.