FOREST PARK, Ga. — September will be roughly a year since a 94-year-old claimed she was sexually assaulted at an assisted living facility in Clayton County. She died a month later.
Since then, police in Forest Park say they have exhausted all their leads and have listed the case as inactive. But family members hope a new reward will help investigators pick up the trail and finally find answers.
Attorney Terance Madden announced by email that the alleged victim's family is now offering $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. He added that the victim's son intends to file suit.
Forest Park Police said in an updated statement that they were called to Governor's Glen Memory Care & Assisted Living Facility on Sept. 5, 2018 for reports of a sexual assault.
The victim, who was unable to speak, used words on a board to communicate to nursing staff that she had been inappropriately touched the previous night by an unknown man, police said, though attorneys characterized the act as rape. The department statement said they gathered evidence from the victim, took witness statements from employees and sent off evidence to be analyzed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Despite all of this, the department reports they were unable to come up with a potential suspect in the case and filed it as inactive. The department stated it would reopen the case if there was any new evidence, such as DNA, a new witness or additional information.
The victim's son also said that he wasn't contacted until five hours after the alleged assault - and only after emergency medical services refused to come into the room until police arrived.
Family claims that, despite clear physical evidence from a rape kit, the police investigation stalled. The victim died a month after the alleged assault in October. And while she's no longer with them, the family said they still want justice for her - and for her predator to be taken off the streets.
"Seeing and knowing what my mom told me happened to her shouldn't happen to any human being," her son said.
11Alive is awaiting a copy of the lawsuit once it's officially filed and has requested comment from attorneys representing Governor's Glen, but have yet to hear back.
To provide a tip on the incident, police urge the public to contact them at 404-366-4141 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.
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