Woman out for walk in Vadnais Heights neighborhood raped by stranger as cars went by, prosecutors say

A woman out for her evening walk in a suburban St. Paul neighborhood was ambushed from behind and raped for what she believed to be at least 15 minutes, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday.

Tristen Alan Leritz, 21, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the attack shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday in the 4200 block of Centerville Road in Vadnais Heights.

Tips to law enforcement from the public led to Leritz’s arrest Wednesday at his White Bear Township home.

Leritz, who is 6 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs nearly 250 pounds, admitted under questioning after his arrest that “my stupid urges took control” during the assault, the complaint read.

The woman, 51, sustained scratches across her face, red marks across her throat and was left in debilitating pain, the complaint said.

Leritz remains jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail ahead of a court hearing Monday. Court records do not list an attorney for him.

In a statement announcing the charge, County Attorney John Choi said: “This utterly senseless attack shocked an entire community with its brazen nature.”

The woman told sheriff’s deputies that she was walking and using headphones during a phone conversation when she was pushed off the sidewalk and into the grass by someone she could tell was a bigger person. Her attacker grabbed her and covered her mouth with one hand while taking her to the ground.

“Cars drove by, but nobody stopped,” the complaint noted.

Leritz raped her for what she estimated was 15 to 30 minutes. He “didn’t seem to care that he was assaulting her in public,” the complaint said. He then walked away.

The Sheriff’s Office said the woman ran to a home nearby for help and was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Leritz’s admission after his arrest confirmed many of the details the woman offered in her account to law enforcement.