GILROY
– Shocked and dismayed residents of Wheeler Manor and their
families are searching for answers today following an in-home rape
and robbery of an 85-year-old woman at the senior independent
living center.
”
I think we’re all very scared right now,
”
said Gloria Lauriano, a Wheeler Manor resident.
”
We are trying to find out how something like this could
happen.
”
GILROY – Shocked and dismayed residents of Wheeler Manor and their families are searching for answers today following an in-home rape and robbery of an 85-year-old woman at the senior independent living center.
“I think we’re all very scared right now,” said Gloria Lauriano, a Wheeler Manor resident. “We are trying to find out how something like this could happen.”
Police are still looking for the man who entered the apartment complex at 651 W. Sixth St., attempted to pass as a repairman and tried to open several other doors before finally entering the unlocked apartment of his third-floor victim around 8 p.m. Monday, according to several residents.
Although the 85-year-old woman was not “physically injured” during the assault, she was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for tests, police said. She has since been released and is staying with family members in San Jose.
A composite sketch of the suspect described to be in his 30s will be released Thursday, police said.
“The good news is that the victim is in good health,” said Gilroy Police Department Detective John Marfia. “We’re following a lead on the suspect right now. But we don’t have him in custody, so of course he’s still considered dangerous.”
Following the incident, the suspect took an undisclosed amount of jewelry and other items from the woman’s home, Marfia said.
“If he’s caught, he will be charged with rape and robbery,” he said.
One Wheeler Manor resident, who asked to remain anonymous, looked into the eyes of the man. She described how he tried to enter her apartment only minutes before her neighbor was raped.
“I was about to get in the shower and I heard someone trying to open my door, but it was locked,” she said.
“After turning the knob a few times he rang the bell. I looked through the peep hole and he stepped close so I couldn’t see him. I asked who it was and he said ‘it’s your relative, Murphy.’
“I told him I didn’t know him and I saw him walk toward the stairs. … I didn’t think much of it because people get the wrong floor all the time.”
Neighbors and friends of the victim are trying to figure out how the suspect gained access to the 110-unit apartment complex, which houses approximately 140 residents age 62 and older.
The front doors of the three-story complex leading to the street are usually locked by the resident manager from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. when the front desk staff leaves for the night; numerous side doors always remain locked, according to management.
Entering the building during that time requires a key or a resident who would buzz a visitor in. Any person who visits the complex during daytime hours must first sign in at the front desk before going upstairs.
But these safety policies are not always followed, residents said.
“People by the front door let other people in they don’t know all the time,” said one Wheeler Manor resident who asked not to be identified. “I also know that some residents give extra keys to the side doors to their family members, and sometimes the side door is propped open. … I always see unfamiliar faces walking around.”
Dennis Lalor, the executive director of South County Housing, the non-profit organization which operates the apartment complex, said this morning that it is still unclear how the suspect gained entrance.
Police did confirm that the victim’s apartment was unlocked when the suspect entered.
All units in Wheeler Manor are equipped with a heavy-duty locks and an emergency “pull string” to alert paramedics of any medical emergencies.
“Right now we have no conclusive evidence of how (the suspect) gained entrance,” Lalor said. “We have had the same policies in place the last 10 years. We hope people take them more seriously now. It’s a shame that it took a tragic accident like this to reinforce the importance (of the security policies). Our intent is to protect our residents in any way possible.”
South County Housing has hired private security guards to monitor the building starting Tuesday night. That will continue for an unspecified amount of time Lalor said.
South County staff members also went door-to-door Tuesday evening to inform the residents of the incident with a letter, answer questions and alert them of several meetings scheduled today where police and social service personnel will be on hand to discuss related issues.
Counseling will also be available following the meetings.
“We’ve never had any problems like this since I’ve been here,” said Helen Strandlund, the resident manager of the complex who has been in charge of locking the steet-access doors each night for the last two years. “A lot of people – including me – leave their doors unlocked, especially if we’re just going down the hall to take out the trash or talk to someone. Now it’s changed. Every door should be locked.”
The suspect is described as a man in his 30s, either Caucasian or Latino and light skinned. He has dark hair, a goatee, no mustache, and was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and light colored pants, according to police. Gilroy police will release a sketch of the criminal Thursday. Anyone with information is being asked to call GPD Detective John Marfia at 846-0350.
