MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after a woman was kidnapped and raped on Tuesday.
The victim was forced into a vehicle near the 9000 block of Baseline Road between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., according to deputies.
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Investigators said the attacker drove away with the victim, who was rendered unconscious and raped. The victim was then left on the side of the road near the 8000 block of Highway 314.
Deputies say she was found three hours later after being forced into the stranger’s car.
“At that time of day, somebody saw something,” Sheriff Billy Woods said in a news release. “We need (the public’s) help to seek justice for the victim and get this violent criminal off of our streets.”
It happened after investigators said people close to the victim reported her missing that morning.
“She was supposed to be somewhere by a certain time, and she wasn’t. It was very atypical behavior on her part so that’s why they were concerned,” said Sgt. Paul Bloom from the sheriff’s office.
Bloom said the victim was found hours later thanks to a passerby who spotted the victim and called 911.
“She was located in a semi-conscious state on the side of the highway and fortunately she’s going to survive this attack,” said Bloom.
He said it’s possible there may be more than one suspect in this case.
“Whoever did this, we are going to bring them to justice. We are going to catch them,” said Bloom.
Detectives said they can’t release many details now citing an active investigation, but they’re hoping someone saw something and will come forward.
“If you have some video maybe it’s ring door camera or something like that go back and review it. Maybe there’s something Insignificant to you but it may be very significant to our detectives,” said Bloom.
Anyone with any information on this attack is asked to call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 352-732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 352-368-7867.
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