Update: The County’s press release has now been updated to confirm that the abduction did occur as the victim was walking to the 7-Eleven in Duvall Center. Also, Patricia M. Murret has posted a story on this incident:
Three men abducted a 21-year-old Laurel woman early Sunday near Olde Towne Gaithersburg, drove her to a nearby field and raped her, police said Monday.
Police are seeking the public’s help, said Lucille Baur, a Montgomery County Police spokeswoman.
“Because the victim is not from the area, she really doesn’t have a sense of where the assault occurred, so we are asking the public … if someone has a sense of where this field might be,” Baur said.
The following is a somewhat flawed description of a tragic event. Linda Court is a cul-de-sac off Crestwood Drive, which is off North Summit a bit north of Gaithersburg Elementary School. The nearest 7-Eleven is not on on Duvall Lane but rather in Duvall Center, which is a small shopping center on MD355, just north of the bridge over the CSX tracks, with the 7-Eleven, the Starvin Marvin sandwich & pizza shop, and the Song Toy Chinese restaurant.
From the County’s website:
1/18/2009
Woman Forced into Vehicle in Gaithersburg and Raped
Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division – Homicide/Sex Section are investigating a rape that occurred between 3:00 and the 5:40 this morning, after the female victim was forced into a vehicle in the vicinity of Olde Towne, Gaithersburg.
It was learned through the preliminary investigation that the 21-year-old female victim from Laurel, Maryland, had been out with a male acquaintance at approximately 10:30 Saturday night. They had returned to his residence on Linda Court in Gaithersburg. She left the home at approximately 3:00 a.m. and was walking to the 7-Eleven store on Duvall Lane.
She was walking in the area of Olde Towne, Gaithersburg, when a burgundy or red four-door Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with tan leather interior and a rear bench seat, came up behind and stopped next to her. There were three unknown men inside the vehicle. One suspect got out and pulled the victim inside. The car was driven to an unknown location in the area. The victim did not know where she taken after driving a short time, but described the area where they stopped as a deserted field, perhaps a cornfield, without any buildings nearby. She saw two large dogs in the field. The victim was raped by the driver and his two passengers. She was then driven back to the area of the 7200 block of Muncaster Mill Road and the Red Mill Shopping Center and dropped off there. She was able to go inside a McDonald’s to seek help.
The suspects are described as Hispanic males approximately 25 to 30 years of age. One of the suspects had slicked back collar-length hair, with long sideburns and a goatee. The other two men had short hair. All three suspects are described as having Mexican accents.
Anyone who has any information about the suspects and/or the sexual assault is asked to call detectives at 240-773-5070. Callers may remain anonymous.
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Contact: Media Services Division Phone: 240.773.5030