Officials in Florida search for man who allegedly sexually abused 91-year-old woman

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida State Police are searching for a man accused of breaking into the home of a 91-year-old woman and sexually assaulting her early Sunday morning.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the woman was awakened by a man who secretly crept through her Reddick home and beat and sexually assaulted her in a “cruel act of violence.”

“While my investigators work tirelessly to identify this individual and process the evidence, we must work together to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. “If you know of anyone who lives alone, make sure their doors are locked, help them install security cameras, and check on them.”

Nearby residents spoke to NBC affiliate WESH and said an incident like this is unusual for the city.

“What he did was just wrong and the whole town is not going to like it,” Reddick resident Jeffery Morris told WESH.

Reddick is a small town of about 500 residents, and since the news broke, every neighbor has been on the lookout for anything unusual.

“Touching them, pushing them down or anything like that is cowardly,” said Sylvester Nelson, another resident.

“It’s someone’s mother and grandmother,” Morris said.

According to WESH, both Morris and Nelson believe the suspect won’t get away for long since Reddick is such a small town, adding that people there usually “get along and stick up for each other.”

“One way or another, he’s going to pay for it. He’s not going to stay. That’s how it goes in a small town,” Morris said.

Sheriff Woods also promised that the suspect would not escape.

“To the person responsible: I will find out who you are. I would tell you to turn yourself in, but I know you won’t. But I will find you,” the sheriff said.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking Reddick residents who may have seen anything suspicious or noticed anything unusual on their security cameras to contact MCSO at 352-732-9111.