Man identified as suspect in attempted rape in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A man has been identified as the suspect of an attempted rape that took place in Bowling Green in 2020.

On Nov. 6, 2020, Bowling Green Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in the area of Ridgecrest Way.

Police said the complainant, an elderly female resident, said she woke up to a man standing over her bed. The victim said the suspect jumped on top of her while she was in bed and attempted to restrain her, according to officials. BGPD said the victim was able to obtain a handgun she kept nearby and fired several rounds at the suspect. When officers arrived, the suspect had fled the scene. Officers found a blood trail inside the home and requested advanced crime scene processors to come to the scene.

Officials said detectives were able to identify Craig D. Byrd, 42, of Bowling Green as the suspect through a thorough investigation and forensic testing.

Byrd, who is currently lodged at the Warren County Detention Center on unrelated charges, has now been additionally charged with rape, first-degree (attempted) and burglary, first degree for the Nov. 6, 2020 incident.

The investigation is ongoing.