Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Raping Elderly Florida Woman

An illegal immigrant allegedly broke into a 77-year-old woman’s Florida home, raped her, and choked her as she tried to escape, authorities said.

The victim awoke around 4 a.m. Saturday after hearing a noise inside her Mulberry home, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Axel Antonio Espinal Herrera, 24, of Honduras, allegedly entered her bedroom, forcibly removed her clothes, sexually assaulted her, and then slapped her as she tried to run away.

The naked elderly woman tried to escape through the front door when her attacker went into the bathroom, but he allegedly chased her, dragged her back inside, and choked her. He then fled, and the victim called authorities.

Detectives canvassing the neighborhood eventually found Herrera at a nearby home taking a shower and identified him based on the victim’s description, according to the sheriff’s office. The victim also identified him through a photo lineup.

Authorities arrested Herrera and booked him into the local jail on charges of kidnapping, sexual battery by force, burglary with battery, tampering with evidence, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and loitering/prowling.

“Sexual battery of an individual is without a doubt one of the most horrific crimes that occurs. And a violent, out-of-control sexual battery on a stranger even elevates that one more level,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a video statement.

“And then you take on top of that that the suspect is in this country illegally that pushes it over the top,” Judd said.

Herrera initially spoke with detectives, but refused to answer additional questions, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives found multiple scratches on the suspect’s body which were consistent with the victim’s account of fighting back.

The Honduran national was also found to be in possession of cocaine, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which lodged a detainer asking for Herrera to be transferred to federal custody if he is released from the local jail.

Authorities also arrested two other Honduran men who lived with Herrera after they were found to be living in the United States illegally. ICE lodged detainers for the two housemates.