Arrest in Brutal Rape, Burning

A 23-year-old man who raped and burned an elderly woman on Tuesday was a door-to-door salesman, police say.

Officers arrested Daniel Deshawn Neal Tuesday evening in Fort Worth.

The attack happened around 2 p.m. in the 1800 block of Sunnyvale Rd. in Grand Prairie. Police say the attacker knocked on the door and told the 78-year-old victim he was a college student trying to earn points for a communications exercise.

But after the woman invited him inside, they say he assaulted her, poured rubbing alcohol on her chest, and set her on fire. The woman suffered second-degree burns from her stomach to her chin.

Neal was supposed to be part of a crew selling magazines door-to-door, police say.

DNA tests are being run to match evidence in the crime. Police say they are confident they will be able to charge Neal with first degree aggravated sexual assault charges.