Arrest made in home invasion and rape of 82-year-old Martin County woman

A week-long nightmare for the residents of Stuart, Florida, came to an end last night when the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reported making an arrest in the violent home invasion and rape of an 82-year-old woman that occurred on May 12.  The sexual assault occurred in the middle of the night in the quiet and private community of Hidden Harbor Estates, located just off SE Street and Lucie Boulevard, and East of Dixie Highway.

The elderly victim told detectives she was awakened by a masked assailant inside her home around 3’ o’clock Wednesday morning and then sexually battered.

The Sheriff’s Office said that they arrested 20-year-old Marvin Ailon-Mendoza last night for that atrocity and charged him with armed home invasion and rape.

Detectives were able to obtain a positive DNA hit on Mendoza from forensic evidence collected at the crime scene. A task force of 25 detectives and road patrol deputies were searching for Mendoza after obtaining an arrest warrant yesterday. Mendoza was taken into custody last night at a nearby Wawa.

And officials fear that this was not Mendoza’s only assault and that there may be additional victims out there. Following the arrest, Sheriff William Snyder said, “We have every reason to be suspicious that this was not his first time.”

“The fact that he was armed, the fact that he got into the house without any sign of forced entry, the fact that he had binding material that he brought with him all speaks to the issue that there may be other victims. Now that’s not certain, but there could very well be other victims out there.”

Officials are asking that anyone who feels that they may have been victimized by Mendoza to please come forward and call the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at (772) 220-7060.

(Source: Martin County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter