Reward offered in Ozark Trail assault investigation

A five-thousand dollar reward is being offered to help arrest and convict the man accused of attacking a hiker in southeast Missouri last month. 

The U.S. Forest Service and Iron County law enforcement officers are jointly investigating the assault of a woman hiking alone on the Ozark Trail in the Bell Mountain Wilderness area on March 23. 

The victim managed to fight off and escape her attacker and run. 

The suspect is described as a white male, late 30s to early 40s, tall and slim, last seen wearing a black stocking hat, sunglasses, a dark coat and pants and carrying a daypack. 

Anyone with information should call the Iron County Sheriff’s Office at 573-546-7051.