Edgartown Police Detective Sergeant Chris Dolby Wednesday provided an update on the investigation into an alleged sexual assault in the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest on April 2.
The 58-year-old woman told police she was attacked at knifepoint about 2:30 pm while she walked her dogs on a portion of Dr. Fisher Road. The woman provided a detailed description of the man she said attacked her.
Detective Dolby said the investigation remains ongoing. In a prepared statement, he said officers assigned to the case have worked closely with the victim and investigated numerous leads provided by members of the community, for which police are grateful. A number of individuals who resembled the description were identified and ruled out as potential suspects, he said.
Initially, the victim said the suspect had a small tattoo on the thumb webbing of his right hand — around nickel size, with a letter in the middle. In an update, the victim said that the hand tattoo may have been what she described as a “grease smudge” and not an actual tattoo, police said.
“Discrepancies in a traumatized survivor’s account of an incident are normal, but obviously further complicate these types of investigations,” the statement read. “As stated before, EPD will continue to investigate this case and keep the community informed of any new information.”
Mr. Dolby thanked the various agencies that have assisted, and singled out Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Connect to End Violence “for their supportive efforts on behalf of the victim in this case.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 508-627-4343; email crimetips@edgartown-ma.us; or text a tip to 774-310-1190.
