Still no arrest in home invader case

MANATEE — With no arrests made in 11 violent attacks between Sarasota and Manatee counties, it remains unclear if one or several attackers are responsible for beating and robbing mostly women.

“There’s some similarities, but there’s some continuing differences. We have not been able to link them together,” said Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Dave Bristow. “We’re not even convinced that the one in east Bradenton is linked to the one in Northwest Bradenton.”

Regardless, there have been enough similarities in the attacks to have authorities in Sarasota and Manatee counties talking periodically to share information through a task force of detectives.

In the attacks, a masked man standing about 6 feet tall often enters people’s homes. He wears dark clothes as well as gloves and long sleeves. Some victims, mostly over the age of 55, have told investigators the man’s race is uncertain.

There are differences in attacks. In several of the cases, women have been sexually assaulted. Sometimes victims are tied up. Sometimes they are pistol whipped.

All attacks are marked by violence.

“It appears to be apparent this person is not breaking into homes simply to steal something. That’s obvious with the violence that has occurred inside,” said Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube.

The areas of the attacks have been upper-middle class neighborhoods. Most of the attacks have been during the day, although some have happened at night.

In at least one of the cases, the attacker told victims he had a drug addiction.

No one knows how the attacker travels. It’s possible he has a car parked several blocks away, or the suspect bikes.

Investigators have also looked at the possibility of the intruder being someone who does maintenance or construction work in neighborhoods.

In the attacks, some of the victims have been hospitalized for several days. In one case, a Sarasota woman was killed.

Authorities are hoping a FBI criminal profile that’s due out of Quantico, Va., will give them more insight to the attacker(s).

The profile could help investigators narrow down an age, personal characteristics, possible jobs, race and education level.

“We hope to get a profile based on the information from all the agencies,” Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Peter Rampone said.

Officials said they could not comment on the likelihood of a copycat attacker. A profile could provide more insight though.

On April 22, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office released a composite sketch from a witness in a neighborhood in the 8200 block of 19th Avenue Northwest who saw a man running away carrying a red backpack. An 84-year-old woman was pistol whipped in her home on March 13.

Has the sketch helped?

“That’s applicable only to that specific incident,” Rampone said. “We got a lot of calls on information. ... I think it’s helped generate many leads, but it’s also given us leads we can’t follow up on.”