Local News

A suspect is in custody for a disturbing attack in Towson.

Kelly McPherson reports a college student was raped outside her home, and now police have made an arrest.

The attack began at the girl's apartment, where she says the man approached her with what she thought was a gun. He then took her three blocks down the road and raped her.

Police say they caught the man because of help from the public.

A 21-year-old woman was unloading groceries from her car on Knollwood Rd. when she was raped last week.
 
She had difficulty seeing her attacker who was behind her for most of the assault, and it was dark outside.
 
"That kind of an attack is traumatic. I mean it's really just physically and emotionally traumatic, so sometimes witnesses, victims cannot come up with the details detectives would like. But they also understand that's just the way it is sometimes," said Bill Toohey, spokesperson for Baltimore County Police.

A tip over the weekend led police to 24-year-old Ian Murphy. Officers are not saying what links Murphy to the crime.

"Because it is an ongoing investigation, there are other parties involved in this who we are going to protect because of some information that they gave," said Cpl. Mike Hill, Baltimore County Police.

The rape happened off campus, but since the victim was a student, Towson University alerted everyone to be on alert.
 
"I've never seen anything suspicious or anything, you know, that would indicate anything like that goes on, so it's actually pretty surprising," said Levi Langford, a Towson University student.

"You never know what could happen to you. It's kind of scary, but we just try to stay with other people and big groups," said Kaitlin Tull, a Towson University student.

Murphy is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sex offense and kidnapping.  He faces a bail review Tuesday.