ROLLA, Mo. – The U.S. Forest Service and Iron County Sheriff’s Office have authorized a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for an assault that happened last month on the Ozark Trail in the Bell Mountain Wilderness Area.
According to Cody Norris, a spokesman for the Forest Service, the attack occurred on the afternoon of March 23.
A woman was solo hiking near the intersection with the Bell Mountain Connector Trail when a man approached and assaulted her. The woman was able to fight off her attacker and fled the area.
The attacker was described as a white man in his late 30s or early 40s with a tall and slim build, wearing a black stocking hat, sunglasses, dark pants, a dark coat, and carrying a daypack.
Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to contact Forest Service Special Agent Chuck Loehart at Charles.Loehart@usda.gov or the Iron County Sheriff’s Office 573-546-7051.
