Sketch released of throat slasher: Computer-generated image created from victim’s description

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Using specialized computer software, McMinnville Police Department officials have released this sketch of a slender, white male believed to be in his 20s.

Police have released a composite picture of the West Riverside slasher, hoping to get a lead on the man who slashed the throat of a pizza delivery woman last month.

“We’re hoping someone in the public will see this and call us with information as to his identity,” said McMinnville Police Captain Bryan Denton. “We’ve tracked down several leads in this case, but so far there are no firm suspects.”

The case involves the attack last month on Elisha Boles, 23, who arrived at a residence on Old Viola Road to deliver a pizza. According to the victim, when she stepped up to the porch to deliver the pizza, the man pulled a knife and cut her throat. Boles said the attack was without warning.

Boles was able to flee the scene and seek aid at a nearby residence. The assailant also fled the scene, leaving behind the victim’s money and taking only the pizzas. The pizzas were found beside the road nearby, where police believe the slasher entered a get-away vehicle.

An investigation revealed the pizza had been called in by a man who left a fictional callback number. He had told the manager his electricity was off and that he would meet the pizza delivery person on his porch. It was determined the residence where the incident happened was an abandoned house.

Boles required extensive treatment, including over 100 stitches under her chin. She noted she had never seen the man before and does not know why he would commit such a crime.

Given the unusual nature of the attack – and the fact the man did not take the victim’s money – police have had difficulty generating a suspect. It was for that reason, Denton said, the composite was made in hopes of getting a break.

The composite was made by using the victim’s description of her attacker. The description was then fed into a computer with specialized software designed to make such computer-generated images. According to Denton, two composites were made, one in McMinnville and one in Murfreesboro, with the latter being the one released to the public.

Denton said the composite shows the man with apparently short hair; however, the captain said it should be noted the man had his hair pulled back tightly in a pony tail, meaning he had long hair at the time. In addition to the composite sketch, the victim said the man was of slim build, probably in his 20s with dark hair.

Anyone with information on the identity of the slasher is asked to call investigator Marty Cantrell at 473-3386.