The Lingering Mystery of the Hyde Park Rapist
North of the University of Texas (UT) sits Hyde Park, a community rife with fear after a serial rapist stalked their community from 1986–1991.
trigger warning: sexual assault
Once a space exclusively for white people, Hyde Park has enough vestiges of culture to keep Austin weird and enough tradition to be charming. It blends urban nightlife, green living, and historical homes with peaceful, suburban charm and top dollar prices. It’s held that reputation for quite some time. But the 1970s ushered in an influx of renters and students to their little nook on the outskirts of UT’s campus. With more people flocking to the area without ties to the community𑁋neighbor no longer knew neighbor.
Hyde Park became home to its very own rapist twice.
From May to September 1977, fourteen women were attacked by the Choker Rapist. He broke into victim’s homes, waited until they were asleep, and used neckties or electrical cords to choke them. Thomas Earl Grettenburg was convicted of five charges related to those crimes after leaving a slip of paper behind at a scene. After that, peace resumed until an attack in early 1986 started the Hyde Park Rapist era.
From 1986 to 1991, Austin Police Department (APD) attributed seven sexual assaults or…
