Serial butt slasher victim tells story, Va. police release new pictures

(CBS/WUSA) FAIRFAX, Va. - One of the victims of a serial butt slasher who police say has attacked women in malls in Northern Virginia, says she was visibly pregnant when she was attacked in February exiting the Fair Oaks Mall.

She says before she realized she'd been hurt, she yelled to the man as he brushed by her, "Hey, you cut my leggings." She says he told her it was just his bag. She says the attacker left her with a deep three inch gash on her buttocks.

"There was blood all over my hand," the 20-year-old woman, who did not give her name, told CBS affiliate WUSA. "It was ridiculous. I started freaking out."

She tells other women to be aware of surroundings and don't go shopping alone. She also said she thought police should have told the public about her attack six months ago.

"I think it's horrible," the woman told the reporter. "I'm just glad that it's bigger now so that he will get caught."

Police spokesperson Lucy Caldwell told WUSA that the reason they didn't tell the public was because detectives thought it was an isolated incident. She says the attacks happened in different jurisdictions and different detectives were involved, and so they didn't realize there was a link until the latest attack this past Monday.

Fairfax County Police have released new, significantly clearer images of a man investigators believe has been slashing young women on their buttocks at retail stores and malls. The surveillance photographs show the suspect is Hispanic, about 5-feet-6-inches tall and heavyset. He allegedly distracts his young female victims while they shop.

There have been five attacks in Northern Virginia since February including three at the Fair Oaks Mall. Other assaults happened at the Greenbriar Shopping Center and at Tysons Corner Center.

Investigators believe the suspect is using either a box cutter or a razor blade. In any case, police are convinced he will strike again unless he is caught.

"It is an unusual case," said Fairfax County Police Spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell.

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July 27, 2011 - Serial butt slasher attacking women shoppers in Virginia stores, cops say