Police are hunting a suspect in connection with the sexual assault of a 61-year-old woman who had been visiting her mother's grave at a Toronto cemetery.
"We won't stop until we identify who this person is," Const. Tony Vella said Tuesday.
To the suspect, he said: "We will catch you. We will identify you."
A man approached the woman after 5 p.m. Monday, dragged her off a paved path in Pine Hills Cemetery to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her, police allege.
They say the attacker beat her into unconsciousness.
Several hours later, the woman regained consciousness and crawled to the cemetery's office. A security guard found her and called 911.
The woman was admitted to hospital. She is said to be in serious condition, but her injuries are not considered life-threatening. However, she has been able to speak to sex crimes detectives.
One of her neighbours said the victim is a good person, adding someone would have to be an animal to do something like that to her.
The cemetery, near Kennedy Road and St. Clair Avenue East, was closed Tuesday. Six burials were postponed, but one family had large numbers of visitors from out of town and chose to go ahead.
The area of the attack is poorly lit. It is fenced-in, with only a few exit gates.
"We'd like to ensure individuals that we do have security in place and that we're doing what we can on a property that's 163 acres," said the cemetery's Rick Cowan.
In September 2009, police arrested two men and had them charged with second-degree murder in connection with the beating death of a 61-year-old man in the same cemetery.
In Monday's case, police are looking for a man described as being between 30 and 40 years old, about 5'6", with a slim build and white, shoulder-length hair tied in a ponytail, Det. Const. Lori Kranenburg said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin said detectives would especially like to hear from anyone who knows someone who has suddenly cut their ponytail off.
With reports from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin and Alicia Markson
