A Florida woman was held at knifepoint by her abductor, who threatened to “slit” her throat if she did not comply, then nearly threw her into the trunk of a car.
Veronica Jones said she had just finished shopping at a Walmart in Orlando around 4:30 p.m. on Monday and was packing groceries into her trunk when the terrifying incident happened. Wesh 2.
“All of a sudden, someone grabbed me all over,” Jones told the outlet, adding that she initially thought someone she knew was trying to prank her.
“He kept pushing me and I was pushed against the car and he kept pushing me towards the trunk and at the same time he was pulling on my purse.”
The suspect was later identified police A man named Juan Perez, 54, demanded that she hand over her wallet and cash.
Jones said the bag contained all her precious valuables and she was “fighting” to protect it.
But when the attacker held a knife to her throat and threatened her life, she quickly realised he intended to commit violence.
“Then he put something against my neck and said if I don't stop this, if I don't give me my wallet I'm going to slit your throat,” Jones said.
Jones went into “survival mode” as Perez continued to push her into the truck with the blade held to her throat.
Jones told the outlet that she “started screaming” for help, but her cries were quickly drowned out when the kidnapper shoved a glove down her throat.
Luckily, she was able to yell “help!” and a nearby passerby noticed, rushed in and chased away the violent suspect.
“She heard me say help and got out of the car and then we were both pulling on her purse and the strap had snapped so he grabbed it,” Jones told the outlet.
A brave bystander later told police he saw the victim's “legs sticking out of the trunk” and the suspect trying to force her into the trunk, according to an affidavit obtained by police. Fox 35.
The Walmart shopper lost her wallet, driver's license, insurance card, cell phone, gift cards, $60 in cash and a $125 check when the suspect fled with her purse.
Ms Jones had marks on her neck where the suspect had pressed a knife against her during the horrific incident, and she denied receiving medical treatment at the scene.
But she's just grateful that a good Samaritan heard her cry for help and intervened.
“I want to thank the girl who stopped, she was with me the whole time and was a big help,” Jones said. Wesh 2.
Police arrested Perez the following day after a GPS device he had worn during the previous crimes located him at the scene of the attempted kidnapping and armed robbery.
According to the outlet, Perez's car was also seen in the parking lot at the time, and a probation officer identified him as a suspect based on Walmart security camera footage.
After his arrest, he was taken before a judge and charged with attempted kidnapping, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault and tampering with evidence. Orlando Police Department.
He is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail. Perez's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Perez, who was previously on federal probation for a kidnapping charge, is accused of trying to kidnap Jones and using a deadly weapon to steal her purse, according to Fox 35.
He also Registered sex offender In 2004, he was charged in Florida with indecent assault on a victim between the ages of 12 and 15.
