$50K Reward Offered For Arrest Of 'Teardrop Rapist'

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The City of Los Angeles is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the "Teardrop Rapist."

There have been 35 similar attacks believed to have been committed by the suspect between 1996 and 2011, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The attacks have occurred in the 77th, Southwest, Newton, Wilshire, Rampart, and Southeast Areas, police said. Three additional attacks are also being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"The suspect typically approaches women who are alone on their way to school or work or who are waiting at a bus stop, between the hours of 5:45 AM and 8:00 AM. The suspect converses with the victim and then threatens to kill the victim with a handgun or knife," officials said in a statement.

The victim is typically forced to a second location where she is sexually assaulted, police said.

The "Teardrop Rapist" is a Hispanic male between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall, 40 to 55-years-old and has brown hair. He has one or two teardrop tattoos under his right or left eye, but officials say the markings may have been removed.

Anyone with information should contact LAPD's RACR Division at 877 LAPD 247.