Murder, Rape, More Charges Filed In 2003 'Fairmount Rapist' Cold Case

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia authorities have now filed charges against the allege Pennypack Park machete attacker in connection with the 2003 rape and fatal strangulation of a woman in Fairmount Park.

Elias Diaz, 46, Wednesday was charged with murder, rape, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault, and more crimes. The charges come on the heels of Diaz being taken into custody and charged with attacking people in Pennypack Park.

Investigators used DNA analysis from the 2003 rape and killing of 30-year-old Rebecca Park, who was attacked on July 13, 2003, at 3500 Conshohocken Ave. and Diaz's DNA taken during his arrest to link him to the cold case incident.

Diaz was charged over the weekend with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and related crimes for his role in incidents on Nov. 22, Nov. 24, Nov. 25, and Dec. 17 in Pennypack Park, police said.

While authorities say Diaz was the man responsible for Park's rape and death, it's unclear if they believe he is the person who committed two other rapes in Fairmount Park, one on April 30, 2003, and another on Aug. 11, 2007.

Police said the victims of the attacks gave similar accounts of his appearance, describing him as a Hispanic man with a Latino accent, medium and muscular build, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, dark complexion, black hair with a thin mustache or jaw line beard and bushy eyebrows.

DNA from these incidents was entered into the Combined DNA Index System for routine searches.

That DNA matched the DNA sample taken from Diaz after his Dec. 17 arrest, authorities said.

Anyone who has information on these cases can anonymously provide it via the police Tip Line at 215-686-8477.

Diaz is being held without bail and is scheduled for a Jan. 8, 2024 preliminary hearing, court records show.