Suspect arrested in Central Park rape case - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Suspect arrested in Central Park rape case

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The NYPD released this image of the suspect. The NYPD released this image of the suspect.
The NYPD released this image of the suspect. The NYPD released this image of the suspect.
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Detectives arrested a suspect in connection with the rape of an elderly woman in Central Park on Wednesday morning. 

Cops took David Albert Mitchell, 42, into custody late Wednesday for questioning, the NYPD said. He faces predatory sexual assault, rape, criminal sex act, and robbery assault charges.

The NYPD said the attack took place at about 11 a.m. Wednesday near West 74th St. 

State Police in West Virginia say Mitchell was eyed in the 2002 killing of a woman there. Investigators considered Mitchell a suspect in the disappearance of Barbara Flake, who was last seen in 2002. Her remains were discovered in 2004, and the case was then classified as a homicide. There was never enough information or probable cause to make an arrest, reported the Associated Press.

In New York, the 73-year-old victim was reportedly a regular at the park and likes to watch birds. She told cops that the man who raped her was apparently the same man she saw masturbating in the park a few days earlier. At that time, she took a photo of him and that sparked a confrontation.

Then Wednesday, the woman said a man grabbed her from behind and raped her, possibly saying "Remember me?" according to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

After the rape, the suspect stole the woman's camera backpack, police said.

Another bird watcher found the woman lying on the ground near a path and called 911.

The woman told police that it sounded like the man had a Russian accent.

"Kill him," the victim told the New York Post. "Cut off his penis. That's fine. Cut off his feet, then hit him over the head. Then give him life in prison."

Police release security camera images of the suspect. The images show him wearing black pants, a black T-shirt, and white sneakers and holding one backpack and wearing another.

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