Sexual battery victim says memory of attack gives her ‘chills’

GOLDEN GATE, Fla. – A woman hopes a Collier County Sheriff’s Office sketch will help capture the man she said violently attacked her between 11:30 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday.

The woman said she was looking through her purse for her keys outside her home when he attacked her.

“He dragged me out to the backyard. We were struggling. I was fighting for my life trying to scream but he kept trying to strangle me,” she said.

Her mother and brother were asleep inside the home, unable to hear her muffled screams. She said the man sexually assaulted her, while keeping a tight grip on her throat.

“As far as I know he was trying to kill me. I thought I was going to die,” she said.

The man did not stop his attack until he looked up and saw something that spooked him, his victim said.

“He looked up and looked like he had seen a ghost. He put his hands up and just ran off down the drive,” she said.

The woman called 9-1-1 and was able to provide a description of her attacker thanks to special training.

“I got a really good look at him. I have forensic training so I was told to get a good look at any attacker and I got a really good look at his face and made sure I burned it into my mind,” she said.

CCSO has created a sketch of the alleged suspect. The victim said she hopes he is found so that he doesn’t attack anyone else.

“I feel worried and I hope they find him. I just look at him and it’s a sickening feeling honestly,” she said. “It gives me chills just thinking about it. I can feel his hands on my throat still.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-252-9300. Or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for an award, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780.TIPS (8477)