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Sources: Person Of Interest In Custody In Rape Of Missionary At NYU Catholic Center

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A person of interest is in custody in the rape of a woman at New York University's Catholic Center in Greenwich Village, sources told CBS 2.

It happened early in the morning of Nov. 1 as police said a 24-year-old missionary was letting herself into the center.

NYU Rape Suspect
Police said this man is wanted in connection with a rape at the NYU Catholic Center on Oct. 31, 2013. (credit: NYPD)

The victim's boots, tights and other personal belongings were left strewn about the hallway along with items she was intending to use to cook breakfast for a group of priests.

Police released surveillance video they said shows the suspect walking in the area around the time of the attack.

Detectives tracked the victim's stolen iPhone to a shop in Midtown when the "Find My iPhone" app signal activated. They said the attacker tried to sell the phone. It's since been turned off.

Police said the atttacker was wearing a dark grey sweater, dark jeans and an Ace bandage around his right hand. Investigators said the fedora-type hat was also dropped at the scene.

Investigators recovered a DNA sample from the hat left at the scene, and the DNA matched a man with a criminal record, sources said.

When the man appeared at Manhattan criminal court for a prior robbery arrest, he was taken into custody, sources said. The person has a record of prior robberies, sources said.

Sources told CBS 2 the person in custody has not yet been charged with the rape, although he has made statements implicating himself.

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