PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University Police are searching for a man they say sexually assaulted a student in a campus dorm over the weekend.
The alleged assault happened Sunday in the Helaman Halls dorm. The victim told police she met the unnamed suspect a few days before through an online dating app. After the assault, police say the suspect left the dorm around 10:15 p.m. and the victim went to the hospital.
“They have a name of the suspect, they know who the suspect is and they are working the case right now,” said BYU Police Lt. Rich Christianson.
BYU sent out a notice to students Monday morning. Police describe the suspect as a white college-aged man with dark curly hair on top. He’s about 6 feet tall with athletic build and was driving a white Subaru.
“I always tell the students you need to be careful. You just don’t know who you are meeting,” Lt. Christianson said.
While sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization RAINN advises online daters to video chat first before meeting in person. Tell a friend where you’re going and whom you’re meeting. Meet in a public place. Don’t rely on your date for transportation and always trust your instincts.
“There is always a risk to students and everybody. You need to be careful,” said Lt. Christianson.
