Kansas woman raped, set on fire in public park

A Kansas woman was raped and set on fire in a brutal attack Monday night in a Wichita public park, police said.

Deon McPherson, who lives across from Fairmount Park, heard the woman’s cries for help and ran to her aid. He said he ran through a “ring of fire” spreading across the lawn to help the badly burned woman. He said she was naked on the ground and barely moving when he found her, the Wichita Eagle reported.

“Where there wasn’t blood, there was a burn,” he told the paper.

He reportedly stayed with the woman until firefighters arrived.

The victim suffered burns on 55 percent of her body and is currently in critical condition but has slightly improved, Wichita Police Capt. Troy Livingston said Monday.

Police are still trying to figure out if the attack was random or if the woman was targeted.

“Our hearts go out to the victim. This is a tough deal,” Capt. Livingston said. “Somebody out there knows what happened, and we need that information.”

He said the crime is classified as sexual assault, aggravated battery and arson. Because of the seriousness of the woman’s injuries, homicide detectives are investigating the attack, the Wichita Eagle reported.

Police are searching for a suspect described only as a black male. They’re asking anyone with information on the crime to call investigators at (316) 268-4181, (316) 268-4191 or to call Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.