DeMotte Police had put all other cases aside since the 911 call regarding an attempted rape of Kristina L. Carlson-Burke on Nov. 20.
Within five days of the crime, DeMotte Police had gathered all the evidence necessary to arrest Jason Todd Fernandez, 21, of DeMotte on attempted rape and burglary charges.
Fernandez had entered into Carlson-Burke's residence at approximately 3 a.m. on Nov. 20, uninvited, and attempted to climb into bed with Carlson-Burke while she was sleeping. Upon waking, Carlson-Burke told Fernandez to leave and he grabbed her and pushed her down by her face onto the bed, attempting to pull off her clothing. Carlson-Burke stated that the man grabbed her hard across the face, causing her lip to bleed. Carlson-Burke had visible abrasion marks on her jaw and neck; a scrape under her arm pit and a bruise on her wrist.
Carlson-Burke fought back and the male subject pushed her down on the floor next to the bed where she had to kick him off of her.
Carlson-Burke's children were awakened by the screaming and were told to call 911. Fernandez then fled the residence, leaving behind a pair of plastic framed glasses, a green pullover hooded sweatshirt and a gray Henley style shirt.
"He tried to play it off that he didn't remember anything, but he knew he was caught," said Chief Jarrette.
Fernandez made a statement to police during the interview, that he knew he was going to get caught, he was just trying to postpone it until after the holidays.
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