Rape Victim Found, Hours Later

A 45-year-old woman who had been raped, robbed and thrown from an overpass lay in a Seattle park for four hours, despite calls to 911 about cries for help coming from the park.

Police said they searched the area early Thursday, but found nothing. The woman eventually was found by Holden Withington, a nearby resident who had called 911.

The woman told police her attacker threw her from a 12-foot overpass onto a footpath in Colman Park below before raping her and stealing her purse.

The victim was in satisfactory condition Friday at Harborview Medical Center.

Linda and Holden Withington said they were awakened about 3 a.m. by shouts from Colman Park, about 200 yards from their home.

Officers in two patrol cars drove through the area and looked with searchlights, but did not get out of their cars to check the area on foot, Linda Withington said.

Police Capt. Toni McWashington disputed that. “They got out of their cars and walked around the area,” with flashlights, but heard and found nothing, McWashington said.