Florida man with 'victim' tattoo faces rape trial

Bruce Whitehead, who has the word “victim” tattooed on his forehead, is accused of raping a woman at knifepoint near Orlando, Florida. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)

A Florida man with the word “victim” tattooed on his forehead is on trial for allegedly raping a woman by forcing her to perform oral sex and mutilating her breasts.

Bruce Whitehead, 55, is charged with sexual assault with a deadly weapon, attempted premeditated murder, kidnapping with intent to do harm and robbery, among other charges. The judge heard pretrial motions Monday and jury selection is scheduled for Tuesday, according to Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV.

According to an affidavit, on Dec. 10, 2022, Whitehead approached the victim at an Orlando-area bar and offered her $850 if she “painted her for an hour.” The woman told cops she got into his car, which they drove around in for a while. Whitehead allegedly stopped the car and pulled her out at knifepoint, ordering her to lie down in the back seat. He then drove into a wooded area, where he dragged her out again and used a knife to cut her clothes off, the affidavit states.

Whitehead allegedly bit off part of the victim’s breast and then attempted to cut it open, the affidavit states. He then allegedly forced the victim to perform oral sex. He also allegedly burned the victim’s butt with a lit cigarette. The victim claimed Whitehead then began stabbing her in the breast. When the woman realized he was trying to kill her, she fought Whitehead off and ran away, the affidavit states.

She ran down the street and flagged down a passerby, who called 911. Investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle and later learned from the owner that Whitehead had borrowed it. Police arrested Whitehead a few days later, and he has been in jail ever since.

Whitehead has also gotten himself into trouble in prison. A friend he had previously met at a rehabilitation center ran into him in the Orange County Jail earlier this year. According to the friend, Whitehead gave him a piece of paper with the victim’s name and information. The friend claimed to prosecutors that Whitehead asked him to track her down and try to bribe her not to testify. Prosecutors charged Whitehead with witness intimidation but later dropped the case.

Whitehead, a registered sex offender, was convicted in the Jacksonville area in 1986 of attempted murder, sexual assault with a weapon or force and kidnapping. He served 30 years in prison and was released in 2007, Florida Department of Corrections records show. He also served about three years for a 2015 simple assault conviction.

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