Manhunt on in torture of NYC student
NEW YORK — It was an ordeal that lasted 19 hours. In that span, a man bound a Columbia University graduate student in her apartment, raped her, doused her with hot water and bleach, slit her eyelids, and finally set a fire before fleeing, police said.
Police have pressed a manhunt for the assailant in the week since the attack, with investigators hoping DNA evidence and a $12,000 reward for a tip leading to an arrest would produce fresh leads.
The victim, who managed to free herself before the fire spread, was still in the hospital yesterday, police said.
The woman, who is nearing her degree at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, was attacked last Friday in her apartment more than 20 blocks north of the Ivy League campus in upper Manhattan, classmates have said. Dozens paid tribute to her Monday with a candlelight vigil.
According to police, it was about 9:30 p.m. when the assailant slipped into the woman’s building and got on an elevator with her. Pretending he was lost, he followed her to her apartment door and forced his way inside, police said. Over the next several hours, he beat and raped her, tied her up with computer cables, and force-fed her drugs and alcohol.
Before fleeing at about 4:30 p.m. the next day, he ignited a corner of her bed, providing his victim a means to escape, according to police. An official said the woman used the flame to break her bonds and obtain help. 