A woman was jogging on a popular Austin, Texas, nature trail at about 5:45 a.m. on Friday when she heard footsteps behind her. A man, identified as 22-year-old Richard Jordon McEachern, grabbed her bear hug-style and pulled her to the ground, then climbed on top of her. Upon seeing her attempt to use her safety whistle, he covered her mouth and began repeating, “Shhh, it’s me, baby, it’s me.” Then, as the assault continued, he told her that he was a virgin and that this was his first time.
While he worked to remove her shoes and shorts, she managed to scream, attracting the attention of a fellow jogger and good Samaritan, who turned on his flashlight and followed the direction of her screams. Upon finding the victim, he pulled out his gun and demanded McEachern get off her. The suspect complied, and the woman ran toward the armed citizen. McEachern fled—but not before stealing the woman’s shorts and shoes.
Police found him on Monday, sleeping near the same trail and still naked from the waist down.
