Rape investigation underway in Cape Girardeau

A Cape Girardeau woman reported she was raped in her bed by an intruder, police said Tuesday.

The 18-year-old was sleeping in a bedroom of her apartment on the northeast side of town when she woke up to the sound of her front door opening and closing around 9 a.m. Monday, police spokesman Jason Selzer said.

A 22-year-old man the woman knew came into her room and attempted to pull the covers off the bed.

The woman kicked the man out of her apartment, but he came back a short time later, locking the front door behind him as he entered the apartment, Selzer said.

This time, the intruder was successful in pulling the covers from the bed and began to rape the woman before she pushed him off and he left, according to Selzer.

Selzer did not know the exact nature of the relationship between victim and her accused attacker, or how well the two knew each other.

The woman was not injured, and detectives were investigating the case. Nothing was stolen from the home.

This was the fifth rape reported to Cape Girardeau police so far this year, and the third within a one-month period, according to Selzer.

"That's a little unusual for our area," he said. "We don't normally get three in a month."

In 2005, there were 12 rapes reported.