Two Men Rape Cda Woman Acquaintances Of Victim Suspected; Search Continues

An 18-year-old Coeur d’Alene woman was raped by two acquaintances who took advantage of her drunkenness Wednesday night, according to a Coeur d’Alene police report.

Police have physical evidence and witnesses but still are searching for the two suspects, according to Capt. Carl Bergh.

The woman reported the rape at about 1 a.m. Thursday after going to Kootenai Medical Center.

She told police she was “hanging out” with her male roommate and two of his friends at Zip’s Drive-in on Sherman Avenue when the four got in a car.

The acquaintances then allegedly fondled and molested her. She told police she is unclear about the night’s events because she had drunk a half bottle of whiskey.

After visiting a couple of houses, the group arrived at an unknown location where the woman either walked or was carried to an empty lot, according to police.

There, she told police, the men forced her to the ground and raped her.

“We have some very good leads in the case that will bring it to a conclusion,” Bergh said. “Sometimes it’s rapes like these that go unreported.”

In fact, according to the Coeur d’Alene Women’s Center, most rapes in which the perpetrator is known go unreported.

According to a national study by Ms. magazine, 84 percent of rape victims know their attackers and 42 percent of the victims tell no one about the assault. Only 5 percent tell the police.

“She reported it and made some tough decisions,” said Holladay Sanderson, director of the Women’s Center.

, DataTimes