No new leads in Sheraton rape case

Police still have no new leads regarding the mid-February rape of a part-time student living at the Sheraton University City.

The investigation has been hindered because the rape occurred during a weekend when many tourists were in Philadelphia for the NBA All-Star Game, at a hotel where the population is unstable.

On Sunday, Feb. 10, a 21-year-old woman, who is enrolled in Penn's English Language Program, was raped at gunpoint in her room at the hotel, by a man she did not know, according to police. She was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania shortly after the attack, but police officials said she did not sustain further physical injury.

The suspect has been described as a black male of medium complexion with a thin beard, between 20 and 25 years old, of thin build and roughly 5'9" or 5'10" tall.

As with any local sexual assault investigation, University Police's Special Services Unit has the primary jurisdiction in continuing the Sheraton case, but Philadelphia Police officials have remained in close contact with the unit, though neither has discovered any concrete information regarding the suspect's identity or whereabouts.

Officials still believe the assailant was either a guest at the hotel, located at 3549 Chestnut Street, or visiting a guest.

"We have been checking scenes and looking through the lists of registered guests," Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. "We have also utilized the composite sketch and gone through lists of past offenders, but we don't have anything new."

Rush did mention the investigation has been more challenging because the rape happened during the NBA All-Star weekend, when tourist traffic through the entire city was high.

"It makes it more difficult in that it's in a transient location," Rush added. "And with any big weekend where there are lots of people in town, there will be a change in the investigation."

Though in the days following the incident hotel manager Phil Hogan said the Sheraton had taken many measures to increase security, and Penn Police were dispatched to the hotel to make frequent rounds and perform special checks on student rooms, the Sheraton management refuses to comment on the success of their increased security measures or the comfort level of guests in the hotel since the incident.

But police officials, who are maintaining a close relationship with the hotel in light of the incident have said the hotel is exploring new security options, such as security cameras and card access to the hotel's upper levels.

"They are actively pursuing these new measures with us and with their security services," said Police Chief Tom Rambo. "All of that is ongoing and will not slow up or stop until everything is in place."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.