MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has arrested a 14-year-old boy in the sexual attack on a 91-year-old Reddick woman.The attack happened around midnight on Sunday, June 9.
The sheriff’s office says the elderly woman woke up to find a person sneaking through her home. They say she was beaten and sexually battered in what they described as a “cruel act of violence.”
On Monday, detectives arrested a teen who they say has been positively identified through DNA evidence.
Due to the age of the suspect, 352today is not revealing the identity of the teen. 352today does report the names of juvenile suspects in certain incidents including when a child is charged as an adult and the alleged crimes involve deaths.
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Over the weekend, the Florida Sheriff’s Association offered a $5,000 reward for information in the case that sparked community concern and outrage.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods thanked citizens who sent in tips and leads in the case.
“The Reddick community has shown its resilience and support for us and their community through all of this,” said Woods in a news release.
The sheriff praised deputies for their quick work on the case and condemned the crime.
“This type of unimaginable violence is still shocking to me after all of my years in law enforcement,” wrote Woods in a Facebook post. “It came as a shock that any individual would commit such an act on a 91-year-old, but it is truly disturbing when we see the young age of the arrestee. Although I firmly believe he should be held accountable for his crime, as a father, my compassion goes out to his family. Hopefully his arrest will lead to getting him help that prevents any further such acts.”
The teen is in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.