The parents of a UC Santa Barbara student who said she was brutally raped and choked after a frat party last month believe students know the identity of the attacker — and they’re begging them to come forward.
Police have yet to make an arrest in the horrific attack that has terrified and angered students and staff members of America’s top party college. The family of the teen victim, who has not been identified, said she was raped at her dorm.
Her parents think some of the 18-year-old freshman’s classmates may know something about the case — and they’re pleading for them to speak up before classes let out for the summer.
“We believe there are others knowledgeable about our daughter’s rape and strangulation that will have peace of mind by coming forward anonymously before they leave Santa Barbara after finals this week,” the girl’s family said in a statement provided to The Post.
The family’s attorney, Tyrone Maho, said they believe evidence leading to the perpetrator could disappear with students laving campus in days.
“Time is of the essence,” the lawyer said. “If anyone has any pictures, any videos, any information at all, it’s important that they please contact the police now.”
The victim’s family remains distressed that an arrest has yet to be made in the case, Maho said, while students have also expressed concerns as an investigation hasn’t produced any results.
The alleged assault occurred after the victim and suspect met at Sigma Pi fraternity party in Isla Vista, the nearby college town surrounding the university, on May 9.
The victim left the party with the suspect at about 10 p.m. and was seen with her alleged attacker at the Tropicana Gardens dormitory between 10:36 and 11:05 p.m. That’s where the assault allegedly took place, Maho said.
The victim called 911 immediately after the incident, according to Maho.
The victim’s parents have asked for outside law enforcement to join the investigation currently being conducted by university police, citing concerns that campus cops may lack sufficient resources to solve that case.
The family also retained a private investigator, saying they fear the college could mishandle the case following another student’s death last year that remains unresolved.
They cited the death of UCSB freshman Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel, 18, who last year died after going off of a third-floor breezeway at San Rafael Residence Hall.
UC Santa Barbara spokeswoman Kiki Reyes said reports of any crime that take place on university property are fully investigated by sworn officers of the University of California Police Department, which is certified and accredited.
Reyes said federal law and university policy prevent the university from discussing specifics of the rape case from May, but the campus has robust resources available to support survivors of sexual violence.
“UCPD has been in direct contact with the survivor’s family from the early stages of the investigation,” said Reyes. “The incident is currently under active investigation.”