DELTONA -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a home invasion and sexual battery at a Deltona home Sunday morning, an agency spokesman said.
The adult female victim, who was home alone, said that three or four men broke into her home and tied her up. Then one suspect sexually battered her while the other suspects stole her television and some
cash. At least one suspect had a knife, but the victim did not sustain any serious injuries other than from the sexual attack.
"The victim told deputies that she was asleep in her bedroom -- in her home in the 800 block of Windbrook Drive -- when she was awakened by a man's knee pressing on her chest," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. "When she initially struggled, the man punched her in the mouth. He held a knife to her chest while another male suspect tied her hands behind her back. One
man then closed the bedroom door and sexually battered the woman while the other suspects were busy elsewhere in the house. The man who sexually attacked the victim then told her to stay on the bed, and he left the room.
All of the suspects left the house, and the woman freed herself and called 911 at about 4:52 a.m., Haught said.
Deputies discovered that the woman's television and some cash had been stolen.
The victim said that it was dark during the ordeal and she didn't get a good look at any of the suspects. There were three or four black males. One man had short dreadlocks and possibly wore a black shirt. The men may have left in a white pickup truck.
Anyone with information about this attack is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (386) 736-5999 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS. Residents can also text a tip by texting "TIP231 plus the message" to CRIMES. Tipsters who provide information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.