Authorities are searching for a suspect after a woman was beaten and sexually assaulted in an east-end cemetery.
The victim, 61, was attacked around 5pm Monday at Pine Hills Cemetery, near Kennedy Road and St. Clair Avenue East, police said. The woman was walking along a paved path when the man approached and dragged her off the walkway, sexually assaulted her and beat her unconscious.
She came to hours later and walked to a building on the property and asked for help. She was then transported to hospital for treatment.
“She’s a very nice person. I knew her for about ten years. She was on her own, I guess, and someone was watching probably,” said neighbour Wilf Robbins.
The attacker is described as:
- White
- Between 30 and 40 years old
- Skinny build
- Shoulder-length ponytail
Ten months ago, a homeless man named Benton Smith was beaten to death at the same cemetery. Officials there are reviewing their security measures, but have no plans to close the grounds to the public.
“Are we going to see razor wire and padlocks on the gates and shut the doors to the public? I doubt very much that we would ever go that route,” said Rick Cowan of the Mount Pleasant Group.
“It’s unfortunate that there are people like the individual that did this – that decided to prey on this poor woman.”
Police have been canvassing the area in their search for the suspect.
If you have any information call the Sex Crimes Unit at (416) 808-7474 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS.
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