Police seek man accused in disabled woman's sexual assault, robbery

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities are asking for the public's help to identify a man they say sexually assaulted and robbed an elderly disabled woman at Primrose Casa Bella Senior Apartments in north Houston. It happened in November.

Police say around 1am on November 8, the man invaded the victim's home in the 5100 block of Airline Drive, forcing his way into the 65-year-old woman's apartment where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.

"After he sexually assaulted her, he took her into her bathroom where he locked her in the bathroom and he stole a couple of items from the apartment," says Jeff McShan with Crime Stoppers. "He took her television and her coffee pot."

Police say before the man left he attempted to remove evidence by pouring bleach on the floor. People in the area of Airline Drive just off the North Freeway say they're disgusted.

"After 35 years in education, it's shocking but not surprising because it's so many things happening right now," says Bishop J.D. Dearman. "And so many people are not working right now. and when you're not working, it's a lot of room and a lot of time to do some very devilish things."

Dearman pastors a church not far from the apartment complex.

Rebecca Bates sits with a couple that lives in the community.

"The husband was worried because they stay here, so they're worried something like this may happen to them. So they just stay on edge," she tells Eyewitness News.

John Nichols has lived here for five years. He says they were on edge even before this happened.

"Lack of security for one thing, on-site security. And the area itself, with crime as high as it is in the area. And senior citizens are easy prey," Nichols says.

The company that manages the apartment community addressed those security concerns with us in the following statement: "The well-being of residents at Primrose Casa Bella Apartments is always a top priority. Primrose Casa Bella Apartments' provides a daily foot patrol of the property performed by uniformed security, three nightly uniformed security patrols and a sworn courtesy officer. We have and will continue to cooperate with the Houston Police Department during their ongoing investigation."

The suspect is described as an unknown black male between 30 to 40 years old, standing approximately 5'10"- 6'0" tall, weighing approximately 180-200 lbs. He is described with a muscular build and no chest hair.

"If he's done it back on November 8, then he's probably hurt someone else as well. So we really need to get this guy off the street," Jeff McShan says.

If you have any information about this crime, you're urged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

You may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 if your information leads to an arrest.