$100K Reward Offered For Arrest Of 'Teardrop Rapist' Connected To 35 Sexual Assaults Since 1996

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The city of Los Angeles and the Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a $100,000 reward Monday for information leading to the arrest of a suspect wanted in several sexual assault cases over a nearly 20-year period.

The suspect, dubbed the "Teardrop Rapist", has been linked to 35 sexual assaults in South LA and bordering areas since February 1996. The last known crime took place in 2012.

Police believe the suspect approaches women who are alone on their way to school or work or who are waiting at a bus stop, between the hours of 5:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

"The suspect talks with the victim, then threatens to kill them with a handgun or knife. The suspect forces the victim from the sidewalk to a secondary location, where he sexually assaults her," the LAPD said.

He is described as an Hispanic man between 40 and 55 years old with brown eyes and brown hair. He is between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 130-170 pounds.

Victims have described him as having a light complexion and a possible teardrop tattoo or scar below one of his eyes and a mustache. He has been seen wearing a gray or dark hooded sweatshirt, a bandanna, black baseball cap or dark-colored beanie.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the LAPD's 24-hour, toll-free tip-line at 877-LAPD 247 (877-527-3247), or via text message by sending TIPLA plus the message to CRIMES (274637).