Photo via NYPost of Cortright and the "person of interest" in the case

Yesterday CU Public Safety sent out a security alert that a “University affiliate” had been assaulted at 5:30 AM on Monday morning, during a jog in Riverside Park around 120th Street. Public Safety has not responded to Bwog’s inquiry about the specifics of the incident, but today we learned more from the NY Post.

Marisa Cortright, a rising BC sophomore from Oregon, was “grabbed from behind, punched in the face and had her head slammed into a wall” by her attacker, who also stole her iPod. The NYPD is searching for a “6-foot-2 heavyset blackman in his mid-40’s” who was seen exiting the park after the attack.

Cortright was found slumped and unconscious on a bench by tennis players entering the park, who called 911. Cortright is in stable condition at St. Luke’s and “doesn’t remember anything,” according to a policeman. She is an RA at Barnard this summer. Our best wishes for a speedy recovery for Marisa, and anyone with information about the incident should contact CU Public Safety at 212-854-5555 and the NYPD —either call 1-800-577-TIPS, visit the website, or text “TIP577” (plus your message) to “CRIMES” (274637).

Update, 7/9: According to City Room, another woman was attacked on 98th Street about twenty minutes after Cortright was attacked. The second victim described her attacker as a slim man in his 20’s, while the “person of interest” in Cortright’s case was said to be heavy-set, in his mid-40’s. No word yet on any correlation between attacks.