(Newberry County) - Newberry County deputies say the man they believe sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl Sunday night goes by multiple names.
Police say that they are searching for Saul Rodriquez, 25. However, police say that neighbors have said that the man identified himself as Roquel Lucas. In addition, a family member has identified the man by a third name of Rocael Herrera.
The man also does not have any legitimate identification issued in the U.S.
Deputies say the assault took place Sunday night at a residence near the victim's home.
"The hardest thing for me is that I was asleep. May daughter had just gone outside to get something to drink," explained the victim's mother. "He saw her. He coaxed her into going into another room, told her, 'Come here come here, I'm gonna show you something.' And when he finally got her in the room, did what he did with her, my daughter started bleeding and crying and he told her, 'You were like that when you came here and you better not tell anybody. Don't tell your mother, your uncles because if you tell anybody, I'm going to kill you.'"
Rodriquez is 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen on Cedar Ridge Lane. Rodriquez is employed at temporary service in Newberry, but did not show up for work today.
Deputies believe he is here in the United States illegally.
Investigators say that they are still working on the investigation into the sexual assault and expect to gain additional evidence, although they have already gained substantial physical and forensic evidence.
"While this was not a random act of violence, it is hideous to think someone could do this and a lot of times people who prey on children will repeat their act," said Maj. Todd Johnson with the Newberry County Sheriff's Department. "So we didn't want him to go and settle in another neighborhood and make those acquaintances and then have this happen again. We want to get him in custody before this happens to someone else."
If you have information on where Rodriquez is, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-559-TIPS.
6/12/2007 4:25:57 PM
