By Joe Johnson
Athens-Clarke County police on Wednesday continued to search for a man who allegedly raped a University of Georgia student last week.
The 20-year-old student allegedly was raped by one of two men who police said she met on a downtown sidewalk early the morning of Feb. 23
Police that it was unclear whether the student asked for a ride home or the men offered a ride, but the trio made their way to UGA’s North Campus parking deck where the student got into a car with the belief she was getting a ride home.
With the other man driving, the vehicle left the parking deck and 19-year-old Dionicio Guadarrama of Carnesville raped the student in the back seat as the car traveled somewhere off campus, police said. The student was driven to her home after the assault, according to police.
The Guadarrama was identified as the rape suspect from surveillance video footage of the car, physical evidence and investigative leads that detectives developed, according to police.
Warrants were subsequently that charged the Franklin County resident with rape, aggravated sexual battery and sexual battery.
Lt. Derek Scott, who heads the Athens-Clarke County police Sex Crimes Unit, said that Guadarrama was believed to have fled the area, but did not know if he might have left the country.
He said there were “no current charges on driver,” and that the case continued to be investigated.
Anyone with information on Guadarrama's whereabouts should contact the Athens-Clarke County Police Department at (706) 546-5900 or call 911.