Student Attacked at Off-Campus Apartment

(09/13/06 - DURHAM) (WTVD) -- A Duke University student says the unthinkable happened to her. Someone followed her into her apartment and tried to strangle her with a cord.

The attack has left other students who live in the Belmont complex, just off campus, on edge.

Monday night, Brian Diekman, his roommate George Robinson and some friends were celebrating Brian's birthday. During the celebration Brian got an instant message from a female friend that brought a cloud of concern to the gathering.

"I just got an IM saying that someone had come into her apartment," Brian explained.

The 21-year-old woman tells Eyewitness News that she went back to the apartment around 11 p.m. to change clothes, but didn't lock her front door.

She says a man came into her apartment and tried to open the bathroom door.

The Duke student says he dragged her out of the bathroom, told her to lie on the floor and tried to strangle her with a long black cord.

She said she offered up money and valuables and he let her go into her bedroom to see how much money she had. Then she says she locked the door and called 911. The man got away.

It's unclear how the man got into the gated complex, but resident, Ali Herman says they've been wondering for months why the exit gate was still broken and wide-open. "After that happened, it does worry me. Too many people coming in at all times."

Apartment management says the gate is being fixed. They also say they had all of the lighting checked out.

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