MULBERRY, Fla. – A 24-year-old man has been arrested after a 77-year-old woman was sexually assaulted, choked and dragged back into her Mulberry home when she tried to escape early Saturday morning, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Axel Antonio Espinal Herrera was arrested after detectives canvassing the victim’s neighborhood encountered him at a nearby residence, authorities said.
The attack occurred around 4 a.m. Aug. 29 after the woman awoke to a noise inside her home.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, an unknown man entered the woman’s bedroom, forcibly removed her clothing and sexually assaulted her. When she tried to get away, he slapped her.
The woman got another chance to escape when her attacker went into the bathroom.
She ran toward the front door, but the man chased her, dragged her back inside and choked her, investigators said.
The attacker eventually fled, and the woman called the Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives began canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and other information that could help identify the attacker.
At one residence, investigators spoke with two occupants while a third person was inside taking a shower. When detectives later spoke with that man, they noticed he matched the description provided by the victim, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators identified him as Espinal Herrera.
Detectives also found clothing inside the residence that matched the victim’s description of what her attacker had been wearing.
Espinal Herrera initially spoke with investigators before declining to answer additional questions, according to authorities.
Detectives obtained a search warrant to collect swabs and photograph Espinal Herrera. During that process, investigators documented multiple scratches on his body that they said were consistent with the victim’s account of the attack.
The Sheriff’s Office said Espinal Herrera was also found in possession of cocaine.
Investigators presented the victim with a photo lineup, and she identified Espinal Herrera as her attacker, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Espinal Herrera was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked on charges of kidnapping, sexual battery by force, burglary with battery, tampering with evidence, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and loitering or prowling.
The Sheriff’s Office said Espinal Herrera is a Honduran national who is in the United States illegally. Authorities said several of his charges were enhanced by one degree under Florida law because of his immigration status.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted and placed a detainer on Espinal Herrera, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Two other men living at the residence were also identified by authorities as Honduran nationals who were in the country illegally. The Sheriff’s Office said both were taken into custody on ICE holds.