Detectives are not ruling out a connection between a woman’s body found dumped at a park and the sexual assault of a different woman last month.
The body of a woman believed to be aged in her 30s was found at about 2.40am Wednesday near a popular soccer pitch in Carlton, north of Melbourne.
Months earlier another woman was sexually assaulted by a man at about 2.35am in Parkville less than a kilometre from where the body was recently found.
Detectives are not ruling out a connection between a woman’s body (pictured) found dumped at a park and the sexual assault of a different woman last month
The body of a woman believed to be aged in her 30s was found at about 2.40am Wednesday near a popular soccer pitch in Carlton, north of Melbourne (pictured)
Months earlier another woman, Jessie (pictured), was sexually assaulted by a man at about 2.35am in Parkville less than a kilometre from where the body was recently found
Victoria Police believe the attacks were random and were possibly connected however there is ‘no known link’ between the death and sexual assault.
‘We’re aware of that matter and we have been liaising with our colleagues at the sexual crimes squad,’ homicide squad acting inspector Andrew Stamper said.
‘At this stage we have an open mind, but obviously we will be considering that matter in relation to this matter.’
The young woman, Jessie, was walking home after enjoying drinks with friends when she was attacked from behind before being sexually assaulted on the ground.
The 21-year-old said she tried to fight off the muscly attacker who grabbed her in a bear hug as he dragged her to the ground on March 28, leaving her screaming for help in Parkville.
‘It was the only time I thought someone could rip me out of this world,’ Jessie told media.
‘I felt like I was fighting for my life.
‘I feel like it would happen again, and it does happen to women everyday everywhere.’
The 21-year-old (pictured) said she tried to fight off the muscly attacker who grabbed her and dragged her to the ground on March 28, leaving her screaming for help in Parkville
Victoria Police believe the attacks were random and were possibly connected however there is ‘no known link’ between the death and sexual assault
Jessie spoke out about the attack on the same day a woman’s body was found dumped on a soccer field (pictured) a kilometre from where the American was assaulted
The woman from Washington, who was in Melbourne for work, said the attacker tried to cover her mouth while he groped her neck, face and body.
‘It felt like a big force pushed me to the ground, there was a lot of force. Very quickly he got on top of me … hitting me, punching me, kicking me,’ Jessie recalled.
The male attacker is described as being between 25 and 35 years old with a muscular build, average height and olive skin where he was wearing a dark coloured hooded jumper, jeans and runners.
Jessie spoke out about the attack on the same day a woman’s body was found dumped on a soccer field a kilometre from where the American was assaulted.
Homicide squad acting inspector Andrew Stamper (pictured) said police had ‘an open mind’ and were ‘considering’ the two matters
Police released CCTV footage of a man (pictured) they wish to speak to over the sexual assault
The male attacker is described as being between 25 and 35 years old with a muscular build, average height and olive skin where he was wearing a dark coloured hooded jumper, jeans and runners (computer-generated image pictured)
The body, which is yet to be formally identified, was found by a passerby near the middle of the pitch between Royal Parade and Princes Park Drive.
Paramedics attempted to revive the woman without success and the death is being treated as suspicious where a crime scene has been establish with authorities to remain at the scene for ‘quite some time’, 9News reported.
Police have released a computer-generated image and CCTV footage of the man they wish to speak to over the sexual assault.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The body, which is yet to be formally identified, was found by a passerby near the middle of the pitch between Royal Parade and Princes Park Drive (stock image)