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Ge’Naye Washington, 17, was brutally raped after her attacker broke into her home while she was sleeping. We must #SayHerName.

 

Ge’Naye Washington, 17, has died following a vicious rape and beating. The Detroit teen was allegedly assaulted by 19-year-oldDarian Winfield.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the teenager was asleep when Winfield climbed into her window and attacked her around 7:30am on January 7th.

“They said they didn’t hear anything. We think that when she heard him come through the window, she jumped and he hit her before she could even say anything or scream. But we’re not really sure what happened” said Ge’Naye’s sister, Shaquetta Washington.

It’s unclear whether or not Ge’Naye knew her attacker. Apparently, her brother may have played basketball with the alleged assailant over the summer.

The teen was just three credits shy of high school graduation. She’ll be remembered by her classmates, friends and family for her infectious personality.

“No one has bad memories of her. She was the rainbows and the sunshine of the family. She would sit there and make you laugh, dance for you. For her to be 17, she acted just like a big kid. We were playing UNO the day before she got attacked” added Shaquetta.

Washington’s body will undergo an autopsy which will help police determine what charges to file against Winfield. “We’ll continue to investigate this case. We will be looking at some other charges. It’s definitely not off the table. Everything is still open,” said Sgt.Michael Woody of the Detroit Police Department.

Winfield is a suspected serial rapist in several ongoing assault investigations. He was recently charged with first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct stemming from a December 30, 2015 incident. The victim was a 39-year-old Detroit woman who was hospitalized after Winfield reportedly broke into her home and stabbed her in the chest.

He is also the suspected assailant in a December 15, 2015 non-fatal knife attack. All three crimes happened within a one-mile radius. A warrant had been issued for Winfield’s arrest and he was apprehended without incident during a traffic stop on the east side of Detroit.

He’s being held at the Wayne County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.

According to The Detroit News, Winfield’s family says the teen was en route to the local police precinct to clear his name following the media’s reports that connected him to these crimes.

“He’s a model student, he works, he goes to school. It’s not him. They have the wrong person,” said Winfield’s mother Anita Pace.

Pace says police are trying to scapegoat her son and “build a case” around him. He “doesn’t have any piercings — not one” said Pace. Apparently, the teen is also “heavier, taller and has a noticeably lighter complexion,” than the assailant.

Winfield does however, have a criminal past. In 2014, he was convicted of “assault with intent to do great bodily harm.” The incident was not of a sexual nature and he teen received probation.

“Darian is a very calm young man, very laid-back. He’s a charmer and women love him,” said Pace who also shared that her son is gainfully employed, he volunteers at a soup kitchen and has a girlfriend.

“We are hoping and praying to clear his name because he’s innocent and he would never do this,” she added.

Washington’s family has set up a GoFundMe page where they’ve raised nearly $2,000 of their $10,000 goal to cover the teen’s medical and funeral expenses.

Please click the link above if you would like to help the family.

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SOURCE: HelloBeautiful.com

Article Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

Picture Courtesy of Getty Images and Hello Beautiful

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