Local

Woman beaten, raped in Renton

A woman was attacked, beaten and raped. Two photos were released to the media and now there's been a troubling development.

The two teenagers wanted in connection with the crime turned themselves in. But police don't believe they actually assaulted the woman.

"It does not appear either is the primary attacker," said Renton Police Commander Dave Leibman.

A Christian school is near the scene of the crime. The Renton Public Library is across the river from the spot where Renton police say a woman was viciously attacked and left to die.

"Yeah, it never happens in Renton that I know of," said Barbara Lux, a multi-generational resident. "Oh, boy. I'm shaking now."

It was news to just about everyone we spoke to in this busy, leafy area along the banks of the Cedar River.

And it stung.

"I love Renton," Lux said. "This is why this has shook me up a little bit. You know, to know that something so devastating and beat her up everything. I don't even watch movies like this."

Renton police say what happened to the 31-year-old woman was all too real.

They say for about an hour, she was raped, beaten, strangled and kicked early last Wednesday morning, and add that part of the crime was captured on surveillance camera.

Video recorded at a nearby Fred Meyer led police to two juveniles who were disposing of her cellphone.

"They both voluntarily came in last night," Leibman said. "They gave a statement. Both have (alibis) and we're actively checking that out right now."

Already, police don't believe they were the primary persons involved.

"According to the investigator, it just doesn't seem so," Leibman said. "But again, these things can turn on a dime."

Police describe the suspect as a black male in his 20s, with a medium build and black hair. He was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, gray sweat pants and white and black tennis shoes.

"It is troubling, it is troubling," said William Jackson of Seattle.

He says he frequents the library near the place where the rape happened. This man thinks the city would do well to cut back some of the vegetation here, too.

"I won't even walk down along that river because it's too overgrown," Jackson said. "There's too many hidden areas. There's too many dark spots. So I don't that's safe."

Renton police say they could use the public's help finding the woman's attacker. Anyone who knows anything about what happened is asked to give them a call.

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP