Cops still on the prowl for killer rapist

The Fairmount Park rapist remains unidentified and uncaught, so Philadelphia police will be out educating sunshine-seeking park-goers today about his savage attacks, distributing leaflets and advice and hoping to generate new tips.

The Special Victims Unit officers will be on East River Drive, West River Drive, Forbidden Drive and Bells Mills Road in Fairmount Park and at Rhawn Street in Pennypack Park from 10 a.m. until dusk.

DNA evidence confirmed that the monster is responsible for three attacks on female joggers between April 30, 2003, and Aug. 11, 2007, including the July 2003 murder of Rebecca Park, a petite medical student was attacked while jogging, and was raped and strangled.

Police are looking into whether the serial rapist attacked a 17-year-old Chestnut Hill girl earlier this month in Fairmount Park.

She was attacked about 8 a.m. on April 11 when she went for a jog in the Wissahickon section of the park. She told police a man had dragged her into some brush and had tried to remove her shorts; she fought him off and fled, then called police when she encountered a trio of women some distance away who had a cellphone.

Contact the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3263 or x-3264 with questions or tips.

-Dana DiFilippo