Teen Sex Assault Victim Improving, Talks With Police

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 15-year-old girl who was raped and severely beaten on Dec. 17 on the Northwest Side — leaving her unable to communicate with police — is improving and has since spoken with detectives.

The girl was found lying in a pool of blood in the backyard of a home in the 2400 block of North Long Avenue in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood.

She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

The update was provided Monday by Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy at an unrelated news conference, according to spokesman Adam Collins.

Police would not say what information the girl was able to share.

She was struck on the head and dragged into the rear yard as she was walking to a nearby bus stop about 6 a.m. on her way to school, police said.

Michael Klockowski, who found the girl about 8 a.m. as he headed out to sweep the snow off his rear walkway, said bloody fingerprints near his doorbell may indicate she was trying to signal for help.

The attack put the neighborhood on edge.

Two schools are located within a block of where the girl was found.

Police are investigating leads but have not made any arrests or released a description of the attacker.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)