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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Mother of Rape Victim Offers $5,000 Reward For Info Leading to Conviction

 Renee Touchton's daughter was kidnapped, robbed and raped in a daylight attack May 2.
Mother of Edgewater rape victim
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EDGEWATER — The mother of the 22-year-old Loyola University graduate who was forced by the neck from a busy intersection and raped in an alley earlier this month offered $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect in the case.

In addition, Renee Touchton said her daughter is prepared to tell her story of being taken from outside the Deluxe Diner at Clark Street and Devon Avenue at an awareness event from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Schreiber Park at 1552 W. Schreiber Ave.

"She’ll be there all day," Touchton said of her daughter.

The Guardian Angels, a community watch group, plans to host a self-defense class at the event.

Touchton said she's been speaking out because she's frustrated with Chicago Police.

 Police sketch of the suspect
Police sketch of the suspect
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Handout

"I’ve been going at it on my own with the support of friends and family," Touchton said of her crusade, which has included doing interviews to help her spread the word that the suspect — described by police as a 5-foot-8, 300-pound black man with short black hair — was still on the loose. "I don’t know what to do at this point — I’m doing anything I can."

Representatives from the Rape Victim Advocates, a support group, will also be there, Touchton said.

Miguel Fuentes, the director of the Guardian Angels' Chicago chapter, said the group had been passing out fliers with the sketch of the suspect and information about the reward.

He said the class, scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, would teach self-defense tactics, like where to strike an attacker and make a getaway.

"We’re going to be focusing on worst-case scenario," he said.

Touchton said she was working to set up a bank account to take donations after people approached her with money for a bigger reward.

"I’m hoping that anyone who has any information — that maybe they don't even think is significant, but could be a possible lead — would come forward," she said.