{
  "id": "2020-10-07-syracuse-university-attempted-sexual-assault-and-robbery-in-oakwood-cemetery",
  "slug": "syracuse-university-attempted-sexual-assault-and-robbery-in-oakwood-cemetery-2020-10-07",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Syracuse University",
    "shortName": "Syracuse",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "DPS Public Safety Notice",
    "enrollment": 22000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2020-10-07",
    "type": "sexual-assault",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "arrest",
    "headline": "Attempted sexual assault and robbery in Oakwood Cemetery",
    "headlinePublic": "Attempted sexual assault and robbery in Oakwood Cemetery",
    "summary": "Syracuse DPS [published a Public Safety Notice](https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/07/public-safety-notice-sexual-assault). Full text recovered from the official dps.syr.edu archive.",
    "outcome": "See official Syracuse DPS notice page for further updates if any."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Syracuse DPS notice dated 2020-10-07",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "On Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at approximately 7:45 a.m., DPS received a report of an attempted sexual assault that occurred at Oakwood Cemetary. The Syracuse Police Department and the Department of Public Safety are on the scene and investigating this incident. We ask that you stay away from the area at this time, and that you call DPS at 315.443.2224, should you have information regarding this incident. More information to follow.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/07/public-safety-notice-sexual-assault",
      "sourceDescription": "Syracuse DPS public-safety-notice-sexual-assault",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim from official dps.syr.edu Public Safety Notice archive."
      ],
      "characterCount": 438,
      "confidence": "high"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Syracuse DPS notice dated 2020-10-07 (alert 2)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "At approximately 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, the Syracuse Police Department responded to a report of a student being attacked while running through Oakwood Cemetery. The suspect reportedly jumped out of the bushes to attack the student. The student began to scream and another runner went to assist. At that point, the suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone and fled the scene, on foot, heading northbound.\n\nThe witness said the man was not wearing any clothes and described him as tall, white, 30-40 years of age, athletic build, short blonde hair and no facial hair.\n\nSyracuse University is focused on supporting the impacted students and is providing resources and services.\n\nIf you were in the vicinity at the time and witnessed the incident, please contact the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5222 or the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.\n\nIf you or someone you know has been affected by an incident on or near campus, please know that there are resources available to you. In addition, for your safety, please review these suggested safety strategies.\n\nThis public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/07/public-safety-update-attempted-sexual-assault",
      "sourceDescription": "Syracuse DPS public-safety-update-attempted-sexual-assault",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim from official dps.syr.edu Public Safety Notice archive."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1313,
      "confidence": "high"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Syracuse DPS notice dated 2020-10-07 (alert 3)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "The Syracuse Police Department, assisted by the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety, has made an arrest in connection with the attempted sexual assault and robbery that occurred early in the morning on Oct. 7, in Oakwood Cemetery. The suspect has been arrested and charged with first degree attempted rape, third degree robbery and fourth degree criminal mischief.\n\nA special thanks to our community members who provided valuable information that led to the apprehension of the suspect. As a reminder, if you see someone or something suspicious, please contact the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool or via the LiveSafe app.\n\nIf you or someone you know has been affected by an incident on or near campus, please know that there are resources available to you. In addition, for your safety, please review these suggested safety strategies.\n\nThis public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/08/public-safety-update-arrest-made-in-recent-attempted-sexual-assault-and-robbery",
      "sourceDescription": "Syracuse DPS public-safety-update-arrest-made-in-recent-attempted-sexual-",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim from official dps.syr.edu Public Safety Notice archive."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1090,
      "confidence": "high"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Official Syracuse University Department of Public Safety notice at [dps.syr.edu](https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/07/public-safety-notice-sexual-assault).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Complete official campus public-safety notice text recovered from DPS archive."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Attempted sexual assault and robbery in Oakwood Cemetery",
      "url": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/07/public-safety-notice-sexual-assault",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-26"
    },
    {
      "title": "Attempted sexual assault and robbery in Oakwood Cemetery",
      "url": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/07/public-safety-update-attempted-sexual-assault",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-26"
    },
    {
      "title": "Attempted sexual assault and robbery in Oakwood Cemetery",
      "url": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/10/08/public-safety-update-arrest-made-in-recent-attempted-sexual-assault-and-robbery",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-26"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "2020",
    "dps",
    "public-safety-notice",
    "sexual-assault",
    "syracuse"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-26",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-26",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}