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Tips climb to 100 in acid-throwing case

Detectives continue checking out leads

By John Branton, Bob Albrecht
Published: September 8, 2010, 12:00am

Vancouver police detectives said Tuesday they’ve received about 100 tips in the case of Bethany Storro, who said someone threw acid in her face on Columbia Street just north of West Eighth Street, near Esther Short Park.

Storro, 28, of Vancouver suffered facial burns and was released from the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland on Sunday afternoon.

She was found injured about 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 30.

A homeless man, Dwayne Stewart, 35, said he found Storro on the sidewalk.

“I saw her sitting down and crying. She was screaming, ‘It burns! It burns! Somebody help!’ ” Stewart said.

Stewart said a woman came to help. He said he ran to the Starbucks around the corner and got a glass of water, and then brought it to rescuers.

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“They doused a towel with the water, to try to ease the pain,” he said.

Stewart said he tried to ask Storro who attacked her, but she was in too much pain.

Police have confirmed they interviewed Stewart.

Later, officials released Storro’s description of the woman she said threw the acid. Storro described her attacker as “pretty,” and said she thinks she had three piercings at the top of her left ear. She said the woman was black, wore no makeup, and had black hair pulled into a ponytail. Storro said the woman was approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. She was wearing a green top and khaki shorts.

Police say the assailant may be slightly built.

Stewart said he didn’t recall seeing anyone at the scene who matched that description.

“I’d like to let her know that, regardless of what’s going on, that true beauty comes from the heart and I’m praying for her,” Stewart said.

Since the case has been widely reported nationwide, detectives with the Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit have received about 100 tips, some just containing advice, from across the U.S. On Tuesday, police said they were still in the process of checking out leads and hadn’t identified a suspect.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.

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