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Registered sex offender rapes, tortures homeless pregnant woman, police say

John Lytus, 52, held without bond

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A man has been arrested, accused of raping and torturing a pregnant woman in Daytona Beach.

Police said John Lytus, 52, pulled up to a 7-Eleven at 955 Ridgewood Avenue and asked the victim to get in his truck, which she did.

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According to a police report, after Lytus asked her, the victim told him she was "dope sick" and homeless.

After the two drove around for about two hours and found some prescription medication delaudid, they arrived at an RV, which was parked near 554 Baldwin Lane.

The victim told police she went inside the RV, where her and Lytus talked about her working for him on some apartments he was fixing up.

Police said the victim went to the bathroom and when she walked out of the room Lytus, armed with a knife, forced her to the bedroom. He told her she had two options: Do what he told her to do or she could die and he would bury her.

Police said Lytus zip-tied the victim and taunted her with the knife, running it along her body before stabbing her in the left and right breast and punching her in the face and chest several times.

The victim told police she pleaded with Lytus not to hurt her because she was six months pregnant.

Lytus reportedly raped her and then left her bound for 12 hours.

The following day, Lytus returned the woman to the same location he picked her up at, police said.

The victim picked Lytus out of a photo lineup.

Lytus, who is a registered sex offender, is also a person of interest in a death investigation conducted by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

Police said a prostitute in the area described a similar incident .

Upon a search warrant execution to Lytus' vehicle, investigators said they found several pieces of potential evidence.

Lytus is charged with sex battery with a weapon, kidnapping and failure of sexual offender to properly register.


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