by
Barry Cohen
DESERT
FOOTHILLS – Area hikers are paying closer attention to their
surroundings following the Sept. 4 beating of an 85‑year‑old
Carefree woman.
Carefree
resident Virginia Brooks Dingman, who said she regularly
saw the victim on the trail, stated that she and other hikers
are still making decisions about their exercise plans. “We’ll
probably walk as a group or with our spouses,” she said.
“But, then again, it’s our community and we can’t let this
incident spoil the way we feel about it.”
As
of press time, the Silent Witness Program had collected
$5,000 for a special reward in the case. During this past
weekend, volunteers blanketed Carefree and Cave Creek with
reward fund posters and flyers printed in both English and
Spanish.
Dingman
said she never learned the victim’s name, but described
her as a cheerful, warm human being. “She always had a smile
on her face and would stop to pet the dogs of other people
on the trail,” she said.
The
victim was attacked while walking along Tranquil Trail just
north of Cave Creek Road.
Phoenix
radio station KTAR on Monday ran an interview with Dingman,
who discussed the assault and the reward. Contributions
are still being accepted at the reception area in Carefree
Town Hall. The Silent Witness Program pays cash rewards
to anonymous callers whose information results in an arrest.
The
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name
of the victim or her condition. They would only say that
the investigation is ongoing.
The
suspect is described as a 6‑foot 1‑inch tall
male in his forties, about 150 pounds, and was wearing tan
pants and a T‑shirt, according to the sheriff’s office.
The
victim was discovered by a Carefree resident at about 11
a.m. in a wash about 12 feet from the road, MCSO reported
last week. She was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare’s Osborn
Medical Center suffering from life‑threatening injuries.
Anyone
with information should call the MCSO special victim’s unit
at (602) 876‑7087.
Safety
tips for hikers and joggers
·
Don’t assume that the area is safe because it’s been safe
in the past.
·
There’s safety in numbers, so pair up with one or more persons.
·
Walk during the day.
·
Don’t wear music headphones.
·
Carry a whistle or shrill alarm to summon help.
·
Change your routes and routines on a regular basis.
·
Stay away from places predators could hide, such as bushes.
·
Carry a cell phone.
·
If followed, go to the nearest house.
·
Let others know where you’re going and how long you plan
to be gone.
·
Take a key. Don’t leave your house unlocked.
Source:
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
