Man kidnaps, rapes and attempts to murder woman in Orange County

A 55-year-old man kidnapped, raped and attempted to murder a 22-year-old woman in Orange County.

An Orange County jury found Bruce Whitehead guilty of sexual assault with a deadly weapon, attempted premeditated murder with a weapon, kidnapping with intent to harm/terror with a weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he kidnapped, assaulted, stabbed and attempted to kill a woman in Orange County in 2022.

On December 10, 2022, Whitehead approached the 22-year-old victim, who initially willingly got into his car. At some point, Whitehead stopped the vehicle in a shopping center and forced the victim out of the car and into the back seat at knifepoint. He ordered her to lie down and covered her with a jacket. Whitehead drove the victim to a wooded area where he physically and sexually abused her, causing her serious injuries.

Whitehead’s knife malfunctioned as he attempted to stab the victim in the chest. The victim grabbed Whitehead’s arm to stop the attack. She began kicking him in the face and chest. The victim used this as an opportunity to escape and ran out of the woods toward streetlights and car noise. She rang doorbells and eventually found someone to call 911 for her.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case in Orlando. Witnesses identified the vehicle Whitehead was driving and reported his confessions to the incident. GPS cell phone data, surveillance video and photos confirmed the route the victim gave. Five days later, officers found and arrested Whitehead. He was found on a highway. Fourteen months after his arrest, Whitehead attempted to recruit a fellow inmate at the Orange County Jail to help him convince the victim not to press charges.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence of Whitehead’s history as a violent offender. The state argued that Whitehead had been charged with the rape and attempted murder of another, unrelated woman in Jacksonville in 1986. The victim in that case testified and provided similar facts to those in the current case.

This is one of the first trials in which a counselor from the Victim Service Center of Central Florida was present to support the victim before and after their traumatic testimony. This was due in part to a pilot program created by District Attorney Andrew Bain to provide greater access to mental health services for victims going through the criminal justice system.

After a seven-day trial, the jury found Whitehead guilty on all six counts. Sentencing is scheduled for July 2. He faces a minimum sentence of 50 years on count 1 and, as a repeat offender after release, could face life in prison.