Florida man accused of rape and attempted murder after woman found mutilated
12/15/2022 1:44 pm PST
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A 54-year-old man was arrested after allegedly raping and mutilating a woman over the weekend.
According to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Bruce Whitehead allegedly assaulted the woman on Saturday, Dec. 10. In a press conference, the Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to an area near Pine Hills Road, where they were met by the victim around 4 a.m.
The woman reportedly met Whitehead earlier that morning at a business by a mall. The Sheriff’s Office said the woman told authorities she willingly went with him at first.
According to WKMG-TV, Whitehead stopped at a convenience store and got her a water. He allegedly drove away and stopped and walked around before holding a knife up to the victim’s throat and sexually attacking her.
Cpl. Evan Avila, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office sex crimes unit reportedly said, "Personally, I would qualify him as a monster. That’s my personal take. At the sheriff’s office, we do believe him to be a danger to the community, which is why we have reached out to the citizens of Central Florida in an effort to bring him in so he doesn’t harm somebody else."
According to WKMG, when deputies found the victim, she was "scared and shocked," and believed Whitehead was going to kill her.
The Sheriff’s Office said they obtained arrest warrants for Whitehead and sought charges of armed kidnapping, armed sexual battery, and attempted murder. Whitehead was reportedly found on Thursday, Dec. 15, and taken into custody near Landstar Boulevard and Weatherbee Road.
Previously, Whitehead was reportedly convicted of kidnapping, armed sexual battery, and first-degree attempted murder in 1986 and was in prison for 20 years.
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