Arlington Woman, 23, Raped at Knifepoint on Four Mile Run Trail

A 23-year-old Arlington woman was raped Tuesday night at knifepoint while jogging on the Four Mile Run Trail, according to information police released today.

The woman was jogging between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday on the trail and passed the man who would later attack her, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said.

The woman reached a point on the trail where she turned around to jog home — and ended up approaching the man again near mile marker 44, which is in the vicinity of Glencarlyn Park.

"He's waiting for her on the trail. She was coming back up the path, and he's standing there brandishing a knife," Sternbeck said.

The man said something to the woman, but she couldn't hear him because she was listening to an iPod with earbuds.

The man physically took the woman from the trail to a location about 15 feet away in taller vegetation, according to police.

There, he raped her, Sternbeck said. So far, no one has reported hearing or seeing anything, he said.

Sternbeck would not release any more details of the attack or the weapon, saying doing so could compromise the case once it's in court.

After the attack, the woman ran home and drove herself to Virginia Hospital Center. Hospital staff reported the rape to police at 8:49 p.m.

The attacker is described as a Hispanic man between 5 feet, 5 inches and 6 feet tall and weighing 140 pounds. The woman described him as "slim," Sternbeck said.

The victim told police the man had a small head and a very high-pitched voice and spoke very limited English. He had short black hair, brown eyes and no facial hair. The victim told police that at the time of the attack the man was wearing a green T-shirt with the word “George” across the front. She believes it was George Mason University lettering, according to police.

Investigators are working on a composite sketch of the suspect to release to the media.

Police are asking anyone who believes they have information on the suspect or the attack to contact Detective Greg Sloan at 703-228-4198 or gsloan@arlingtonva.us.