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Police investigating murder, sexual assault in same area

Posted at 11:53 PM, Mar 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-30 23:53:22-04

A woman was stabbed to death days after another woman was forced into an alley and sexually assaulted, according to Baltimore police.

It happened in the Baltimore Highlands neighborhood of southeast Baltimore.

Friends and well-wishers wrote messages of cheer at the makeshift memorial to a woman killed an alley in the 3500 block of Esther Pl. is where someone stabbed to death 34-year-old April Ellis Tuesday.

Ellis was killed a block away from the alleyway where another woman in her 30's was sexually assaulted at knife point March 23 at about 7:30 a.m., police said.

Police released a sketch of the man and said he was between 20 and 30 years old and had a heart-shaped tattoo under his left eye, was 6 feet tall, weighed 185 pounds and had a mustache.

"The neighborhoods changed dramatically," said Elaine Young, who lives in the area. "It's really scary. I have a 10-year-old who I don't want out here when that staff happens," she said, alluding to what she said was prostitution that occurred day and night.

Police said they were "not aware" of any direct link between the crimes but were still investigating.

Police encourage anyone with information to text tips directly to 443-902-4824 or call Metro Crimestoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.