CBS13 Exclusive: Watt Avenue Rape Victim Shares Horror Of 30-Minute Attack

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A rape victim shared the horror of the pre-dawn attack she experienced while walking to work near a busy roadway. It's an interview you'll only read about on CBSSacramento.com.

Thursday's attack happened near Watt Avenue and Business 80. CBS13 is not identifying the victim.

"I didn't think I'd see my family again, my friends, I was so scared," she said. "I was just thinking God, please let me just get away."

But she didn't get away and the man who brutally raped her is still on the loose. She hopes sharing her ordeal will help bring him to justice.

"Next thing I know his arms were wrapped around my throat," she said.

She was walking to work at around 4:30 a.m. across the Business 80 overpass on Watt Avenue.

"I noticed someone sitting in the bushes, and I didn't pay no mind to it. I'm thinking regular homeless person," she said.

Listening to music, she says she never heard him jump out.

"He was gripping me tight, I can't breathe, I'm clawing the fence," she said. "I'm trying to find something, do something, and I can't."

The terrifying attack lasted almost a half an hour. The man allegedly dragged her into the brush out of view.

"The whole time during this attack I'm just thinking, I hope I can survive to see my husband," she said.

The 23-year-old says at times he was choking her until she blacked out, and then it was over.

"He told me to stay with my face down, count to 15," she said.

And then he was gone.

Tonight Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies say they are actively investigating the crime.

"This is likely a guy with a criminal history, so we're very concerned about finding who he is and apprehending him," said Sgt. Jason Ramos.

The victim says she's starting to cope, knowing he didn't take her life.

"To have my life in his hands, not know if he was going to let me live or leave me lying there," she said. "I'm hoping and praying that this guy is caught."