Woodlands on Edge After Two Women are Attacked at Apartment Complex

THE WOODLANDS – Residents who live at the Trailpoint at The Woodlands apartment complex are being extra vigilant after two women were sexually assaulted there in less than a month.

Sheriff's deputies believe the same man may have committed the rapes, which were reported to police on Sept. 16 and Oct. 13, which is located in the 2300 block of South Millbend, off of Grogran's Mill Road.

During each attack, the man came into the apartment through an unlocked door in the early morning hours and used a bed sheet to hold down the women as he assaulted them.

The victims described their attacker as a white or Hispanic male, possibly between 18 and 24 years old with a slight accent.

On the second attack, he was wearing black work pants, black T-shirt and white tennis shoes. No sketch artist rendering or any other information has been provided by law enforcement.

Some residents took to social media with concern about the lack of information about the assaults provided by Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Media first received a release about the Oct. 13 the day after the assault.

However, it took law enforcement more than a month, and only after a second attack, before a release was sent out Oct. 17 about the first sexual assault Sept. 16.

Sheriff's Capt. Ronnie Silvio told the Houston Chronicle that it was likely investigators weren't about to tie the cases the two cases together.

"They knew about the two cases, but they weren't able to tie them together at that point," Silvio said. "Not having the evidence to be able to tie them together, they didn't put it out. Basically, until they were able to do interviews with people and look at the MOs, they just waited to put them out until they had those facts."

Valerie Gilbert, a resident in the complex, told the Houston Chronicle that she moved to the apartment complex was because it seemed safe.

"It's been a super safe neighborhood," Gilbert said. "You see families out walking at 9 or 10 at night. It feels safe. It's very quiet."

However, since the attacks Gilbert is admittedly more cautious.

"It's a little shocking we didn't know about the first (assault)," she said. "We have a sense of complacency here."

Data shows that residents reported 22 sexual assaults in The Woodlands so far in 2016. In 2015, residents reported 46 sexual assaults.

There were 50 reported sexual assaults in 2014.

Those numbers indicate how an incident was reported to law enforcement; and it is possible some of those calls were re-classified or unfounded.

Anyone with information on the attack is urged to call Detective J. Blackwell at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5876.

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