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Barefoot Rape Victim Runs Out To Street Barefoot As Her Alleged Attacker Pursues Her With Butcher Knife, Authorities Say

Brian D. Lawrence allegedly broke into a woman's Auburn, NY home and "forcefully" raped her before she managed to escape and call for help, police say.

By Jill Sederstrom
Brian Lawrence Pd

A barefoot rape victim managed to run out into the street and call 911, even as her alleged attacker pursued her with a butcher knife, authorities say.

Auburn Police Det. James Frost said in a statement that officers received a report at 10:26 a.m. Sunday morning of a female walking down the street “in a bathrobe and bare feet” while a man “possessing a butcher knife” followed behind her.

The victim reportedly told a 911 dispatcher that she had been raped and that the man “might kill her,” Frost said.

Police quickly arrived at the scene and found the suspect, identified as Brian D. Lawrence, 24, walking nearby and took him into custody. He is now facing charges of first-degree rape and second-degree criminal trespass.

“During the course of the investigation, it was found that Lawrence entered the victim’s residence without the victim’s permission, using a key that he took from a different person,” Frost said. “The investigation determined that during his time in the victim’s apartment, Lawrence forcefully raped her.”

As Lawrence was allegedly grabbing a butcher knife from the woman’s kitchen, she managed to flee the apartment, walking into the street to look for help, police said.

Lawrence allegedly followed the woman outside with the knife, which authorities later recovered near the area where Lawrence was apprehended.

Frost said police believe this was an “isolated incident” and said there is “no known threat to the public” related to the incident.

Lawrence, who was arraigned Monday, is currently being held without bail at the Cayuga County Jail.

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