Rape Suspect Sought; Victim Describes Terrifying Incident

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The search continues Tuesday for a man who deputies said held a 41-year-old woman at gunpoint, dragged her from a bus stop and then raped her. The incident happened early Sunday moing at a Lynx bus stop near 17th Street and South Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County.

Investigators said the woman was waiting for the bus when the man put a gun to her back, dragged her across the road and raped her in an abandoned lot.

“I just wanted him to kill me, I was scared to death,” said the victim. “I didn't want him to touch me, just nasty."

She did not want to be identified, but wanted to speak out to help catch the man.

“The whole time, I was scared, I was crying, I was hurt, I'm like, 'Why me?'” she said.

She helped detectives create the suspect's composite sketch that was released Monday.

The sheriff's office said the area where the incident happened is heavily patrolled.

“That's one of our hot areas, it's one of the areas that drives our crime rate, we've made a lot of headway there in a lot of respects,” said Jim Solomons of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The victim said she no longer feels safe, even at home. With a hammer and a broomstick as her protection, she said she hopes someone will recognize the man.

“I need help,” she said. “He's probably out there, done it to someone else, and they're scared to speak up.”

The suspect is described to be in his mid-20s, six feet tall and weighing 170 to 180 pounds. At the time of the assault, he was wearing a black-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored, calf-length shorts.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information. Anyone with information about the person sought or details of the crime is urged to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

Investigators said if he is caught, he will likely face both rape and kidnapping charges.