Suspect of Fairmount Park Rape Case Elias Diaz Charged with Three More Sexual Assaults

Elias Diaz, the man identified as a suspect in the decades-old rape investigations at Fairmount Park, has been charged with three additional cases of unsolved sexual assaults. (Photo: Philadelphia Inquirer)

Fairmount Park Rapist Elias Diaz Faces New Charges in Unsolved Sexual Assaults

Elias Diaz, the man identified as a suspect in the decades-old rape investigations at Fairmount Park, has been charged with three additional cases of unsolved sexual assaults. The 46-year-old was previously charged with the rape and killing of Rebecca Park, a medical student found dead in Fairmount Park in 2003, as well as a series of machete attacks at Pennypack Park in November. Following his arrest, police realized Diaz fit the profile of the “Fairmount Park rapist” investigation.

Authorities revealed that Diaz has now been charged with three other sexual assaults that occurred between 2003-2007, two in Fairmount Park and one in Pennypack Park. DNA evidence from these cases and the Rebecca Park investigation has linked all the sexual assaults to a single suspect, confirming Diaz’s involvement.

Investigative efforts in the spring, using ancestry records, led to the identification of Diaz, though due to challenges in locating him, he remained elusive for months.

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The three additional sexual assaults Diaz is charged with include an attack in April 2003, where he allegedly raped a 21-year-old woman at Fairmount Park. Additionally, in October of that year, he allegedly attempted to rape a 37-year-old woman at knifepoint near the Falls Bridge. Four years later, Diaz allegedly raped a 29-year-old woman at Pennypack Park.

The case continues to unfold as Philadelphia Police work hard to bring justice to the victims and ensure the safety of the community.

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