DETROIT, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Police in Detroit said Monday they had nine persons of interest but no solid suspects in a string of rapes.
The Detroit News reported police Chief Ralph Godbee said forensic evidence has been sent to the state police crime lab to try to nail down or rule out possible suspects in the sexual assaults against seven women and an attempt against an eighth just this month on Detroit's northeast side.
"We're not going to let this monster cripple us," Godbee told reporters.
Police have picked up nine young men in the areas where the attacks occurred and charged them with various offenses. But for now they are only persons of interests in the rapes, Godbee said.
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The chief released two new composite sketches of the sexual predator.
The victims, all but one residents of Detroit, have ranged in age from 17 to 33. All were alone when attacked between 7:40 p.m. and 6:15 a.m. Most were abducted near a bus stop, taken to another location and attacked, though one woman said a man bumped her car with his vehicle and then grabbed her when she got out to inspect the damage.
"We understand this predator," Godbee said. "We understand where he's hitting."
Police have described the attacker as a black man in his 30s, 5-foot-9 and thin with a mustache, goatee and short fade hairstyle. He was wearing black jeans, boots and jacket during the most recent attack.
The Detroit Free Press reported an official familiar with the investigation says the man is believed to be driving a dark-colored car, possibly a Pontiac Grand Am.
The Free Press said police have investigated 71 tips called in by citizens.
