Woman Says Dog Deterred 'Wooded Rapist'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Brentwood woman could have become the latest victim of an attacker labeled the "Wooded Rapist" if not for the growls of a small dog.

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Police said they got a big break Monday in the case of a serial rapist just as the attacker was apparently about to strike again.

Christa Cuyler said she realizes how close she came to being attack No. 14 in a series of reported rapes and attempted rapes.

After midnight on Monday, Cuyler’s in-laws were sleeping in a camper in the driveway of the Cuylers’ house in Brentwood when their growling dog woke them up.

Her mother-in-law said she saw a man in between their cars and said “Hey.”

"He turned around, he had a mask on his face," said Cuyler.

He flashed a light in their eyes and growled.

"He went like, ‘(growl)’ like he was upset that they foiled his plan," said Cuyler.

They called 911. Brentwood police stopped and questioned Robert Jason Burdick, who was leaving the Meadow Lakes subdivision where the Cuylers live.

It’s same subdivision where a woman said she was raped in 2004.

The method of operation of the man who was spotted Monday matched descriptions of previous attacks that had been reported.

Brentwood police said they suspected it was the man they wanted in three cold rape cases.

"Yes, they were very aware that this could be the suspect that we were looking for," said Brentwood police Capt. Jeff Hughes.

Burdick was then put under 24-hour surveillance and arrested Thursday.

"I just kept thinking the scenarios that could have happened, because we had the door unlocked in case they wanted to come in. I was just thinking, 'What if he came in? Which way would he go?'" said Cuyler.

The Cuylers moved to Tennessee from Michigan in July and had never heard of the "Wooded Rapist."

"She's the hero," said Cuyler of her parents' dog.

In a 2004 attack, the victim said she was watching television downstairs on the couch when it happened. She said she was forced outside while her husband and child were inside.

Cuyler said that woman's story gave her some chills because her daughter had been sleeping on a downstairs couch earlier on Monday evening.