JOPLIN, MO. ? Police are continuing to hunt for an alleged rapist even after his victim died in a car crash in Kansas, city police and the Newton County Sheriff’s Department said.

Melody Ann Carson, 50, died Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 400, east of Kansas 126, in Crawford County, Kan., southeast of McCune. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Carson’s westbound vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound truck, whose driver and three passengers suffered possible injuries.

Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said Carson was the victim of a break-in, assault and rape at her locked mobile home last week.

The rape investigation is continuing, city and county authorities said Wednesday. “If we find out who the bad guy is, we’ll try to file charges,” said Joplin police Lt. Keith Meyer.

Newton County deputies have been patrolling the area where Carson lived to try to find the rapist, Copeland said.

Meyer said Carson described her attacker as a stranger with spiked blond hair. She told police he wrapped a belt or electric cord around her neck and raped her.

The man was described as standing 6 feet tall, weighing 180 pounds, being in his late 20s and having a muscular build.