PLANO, Texas — A 37-year-old North Texas man has been arrested on a charge of aggravated sexual assault and investigators believe there may be other victims in the area, according to a police news release.
"Based on just the nature of his violence, we don’t believe this was his first act," said Officer Andrae Smith with Plano Police.
Detaron Lee Fenley, 37, of Allen, was arrested and charged on Oct. 3 with aggravated sexual assault, the Plano police department said in a press release.
Smith said the incident happened on Sept. 24 at a hotel in Plano after the two connected online via WhatsApp. Smith said the victim had defensive wounds on her hands from a knife, but all of her injuries were from Fenley's hands.
"It was just brutal…it was just brutal. I can’t put into words…you know how violent it was," said Smith.
Smith says the woman reported the attack to officers, and on Oct. 3, detectives arrested Fenley. According to the release, Fenley "routinely communicates with women" who may be involved in the sex trade industry via online dating applications.
"As a result, it is believed he may have additional victims in the DFW area," the release said.
"We want to make sure regardless of what platform you came from, if you were a victim to this individual, that we prioritize your investigation," said Smith.
Amy Lawrence is with The Turning Point, a center that helps victims of sexual assault. She said survivors of sexual assault can have guilt and that may prevent them from speaking out. "There’s a fear of being blamed for what happened and we know that it is never a survivor’s fault," said Lawrence. "It’s really critical that the voices of those that have been impacted are lifted up and made known."
Anyone with information or anyone who may have been victimized should contact their local police agency or the Plano Police Department’s Special Victims Unit Tip Line at 972-941-2044. Police released a photo of Fenley's vehicle in the release.
