Deputies: Man, 18, ties up elderly Ocala man during armed home invasion robbery

Man accused in separate case of tying up elderly women with oxygen tubes

OCALA, Fla. – An 18-year-old man who was arrested earlier this month in connection with a violent home invasion robbery was charged in connection with another case Friday, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies said they received forensic evidence that tied Gabriel Bowen, 18, to an armed home invasion that took place July 17 at a home on Southeast 80th Place in Ocala.

The 74-year-old man who lived in the home told authorities Bowen came up behind him, threatened him with a knife, blindfolded him and tied up his hands and feet before locking him in a closet while he ransacked the man's home, deputies said.

The man's wallet, cellphone, money, guns and two TVs were stolen during the invasion and the suspect left the knife at the home, deputies said. The man told deputies that the robber also demanded the PIN for his card, which was later used to make several purchases.

Authorities Bowen's fingerprints were found on the knife. Surveillance footage revealed a man who looked like Bowen using the man's card to withdraw money from an ATM, deputies said.

Bowen was arrested Oct. 9 and charged in connection with a July 22 home invasion robbery, during which he battered two elderly women and used their oxygen tubes to tie them up, deputies said. 

In addition to the charges he faces in connection with the first case, Bowen was charged Friday with robbery-home invasion with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, battery on a person 65 years of age or older, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and fraud-illegal use of a credit card, deputies said. Bowen is being held in the Marion County Jail on $177,000 bail.


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