Police: Woman Kidnapped, Sexually Assaulted in Minivan

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Taylorsville, GA -- The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office is following up on leads and clues to solve a kidnapping and rape that authorities say happened near Taylorsville.

A deputy was dispatched early Friday, Jan. 15 to Polk Medical Center in Cedartown and met with a 34-year-old woman who recounted the attack to authorities.

The woman told police that she stopped at Dollar General at 2335 Highway 113 in Taylorsville between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.

After buying some items, she left in her burnt orange minivan and proceeded to drive to her home in Rockmart.

Shortly after leaving the Dollar General, an unknown male “surprised her from behind her seat and used her seat belt to strangle, her forcing her to pull over,” the agency said.

“The male then forced her to the rear seat and sexually assaulted her,” the sheriff’s office said. “After the assault the male fled from the van in an unknown direction.”

The woman suffered injuries to her face and neck, and was treated at the hospital. She described her alleged attacker as a tanned, middle-aged white male with a large build and scruffy facial hair. She also told police he was wearing work boots, “smelled like he had not bathed and like he was a heavy cigarette smoker,” the agency added.

Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap stated detectives continue to follow up on every lead to identify and arrest the suspect.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this incident is asked to call Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 770-382-5050 ext. 6032. Callers can remain anonymous.

Return to Patch for updates.

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