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Baltimore police catch suspected serial rapist, DNA evidence links three separate attacks

Nelson Clifford CBS Baltimore

(CBS) BALTIMORE - Baltimore police say they have caught a serial rapist and linked him to three separate attacks using DNA evidence.

CBS Baltimore reports that Baltimore detectives say Nelson Bernard Clifford, 33, is responsible for three different rapes throughout the city, and that there may be more victims.

"I don't know how to describe this individual other than a predator," said Anthony Guglielmi, Baltimore City Police spokesperson.

Police say the first attack occurred in early November. According to police, Clifford climbed through a woman's window at night and raped her at knifepoint while her two children were in the next room.

The same thing happened two more times and in once incident he allegedly used an ice pick as the weapon.

Law enforcement officials say Clifford always struck at night. "Nelson Clifford has a very specific MO," said Baltimore City Police Major Martin Barton.

Police found Clifford hiding out a couple of weeks ago, and were able to find the third victim while he was in jail.

Because police believe there may be more victims, the department is asking anyone with information on Clifford to call investigators.

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