Slayings raise alarms for women who practice sports alone

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The killings of three women who were attacked while engaged in sports have raised alarms about how women can defend themselves, and why they must be ready to fight off attackers in the first place.

Two college students were recently killed while golfing and running in Iowa. A third woman was stabbed to death in Washington, D.C., while jogging.

Steve Bobenhouse is owner of a Des Moines-area running store and a longtime fixture in the city’s running community. He says it’s not fair that women have to face a different situation than men.

The death of Mollie Tibbetts last month in Iowa prompted an outpouring from other runners, especially on social media. Hundreds of women described being harassed and followed and vowed to keep running as a show of defiance.