In a major breakthrough, the Philadelphia Police Department announced today that they have apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for a string of knife attacks on Pennypack Trail. The suspect, identified as Elias Diaz, 46, has also been linked to a notorious cold case that has haunted the city for years.

Diaz was taken into custody on Sunday following a series of knife attacks on three individuals on Pennypack Trail in Northeast Philadelphia last month. According to police, two victims were slashed by a machete-wielding cyclist, while a third managed to escape unharmed after the suspect became verbally abusive. Investigative sources reveal that Diaz is now being connected to a series of rapes that occurred in Fairmount Park dating back to 2003.

The "Fairmount Park Rapist," as the unidentified serial rapist came to be known, has terrorized the city for close to two decades. The first known incident occurred in April 2003, when a 21-year-old woman was raped at knife-point while jogging on Kelly and Fountain Green drives. Two months later, the suspect allegedly raped and strangled 30-year-old med student Rebecca Park on the west side of Fairmount Park. Her body was discovered four days later.

In October of the same year, a 37-year-old woman narrowly escaped being attacked by the same suspect while jogging on West River Drive. The victims provided the police with descriptions of their attacker, describing him as a Hispanic man, around 5-foot-8, with black hair, a thin mustache or jawline beard, and bushy eyebrows. In two cases, he was observed wearing an earring in his left ear and making his escape on a purple metallic 10-speed bike.

After a hiatus of nearly four years, the suspect is believed to have struck again in August 2007 near the intersection of Frankford and Solly avenues. DNA evidence collected from the three victims conclusively links them to the same assailant, according to the authorities. Over the years, investigators have released composite sketches based on the suspect's DNA to aid in his identification and capture.

The arrest of Elias Diaz has brought hope to the victims and families affected by these heinous crimes. Philadelphia Police Department is scheduled to hold a press conference at 4:30 pm, where they will provide further details on the case, including information on the suspect's arrest and the investigation. The press conference can be streamed live on the FOX Local app.

The apprehension of Diaz not only marks an end to the reign of terror he allegedly inflicted upon the city but also offers a glimmer of closure for the countless individuals impacted by the Fairmount Park Rapist. As the investigation unfolds, authorities hope that this development will lead to justice for the victims and serve as a reminder of the tenacity and dedication of the law enforcement community in ensuring the safety of their citizens.