13-year-old student sexually assaulted on way to school, SVU investigating

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- The Special Victims Unit is investigating reports of a 13-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted while walking to school Tuesday morning.

The incident happened just off of Keller Street, in an alley between Fremont and N. Meade Streets, according to the prosecutor's office.

South Bend Police said the report was filed at 7:20 a.m. in the 2700 block of Elwood Avenue.

There are no suspects and no arrests have been made.

The victim's father, who wants to remain anonymous at this time, detailed the account to us.

The father says his daughter walks to LaSalle Intermediate Academy every day from their home less than a mile away.

To avoid a muddy puddle on Keller Street, she stepped into the alley. There, she allegedly saw a man with his pants down.

According to the father, the suspect lunged at the teen and punched her in the stomach.

Described as a middle aged man, around 5-8", weighing between 160-180 pounds, with facial hair and bulging eyes, the suspect allegedly pinned the victim to the ground and fondled her.

Her father says his daughter fought back. Amidst threats of further harm if she didn’t keep quiet, the victim’s screams for help prompted the attacker to let her go.

She quickly ran to the school, which was within sight of the alleged attack.

The victim’s father says she was taken to the hospital where she was treated for injuries to her neck and investigators examined her for any DNA evidence that could help with the investigation.

The victim is now home recovering, according to her dad. Meanwhile, SVU says they are actively investigating.

The family who lives closest to the area where the alleged attack happen say they did not see anything because they had already left for work for the day. But, with two young girls in the home around the same age as the victim, they aren’t taking any chances.

“Now I’m scared. I’m nervous because you know this has never happened before here until now. I don’t let them play outside by themselves because I’ve always had a fear of something like that happening,” says neighbor Samantha Wells.