Umatilla High School Student Sexually Assaulted
 

On Jan. 20, a teenage girl was walking from Umatilla High School at roughly 2:30 p.m. when she was honked at by a male in a black dually pickup and asked if she needed a ride. After getting into the vehicle, the male drove her to an area east of Alexander Springs and forced her

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Sexual Assault
 

I hardly know how to respond. This will be something this young lady will relive over and over for the rest of her life. We can always Monday morning quarterback this, but the main point remains that this monster must be caught and put in the cage where he belongs.

Getting in a vehicle of a stranger rarely turns out to be a good idea.

Didn’t read that in the Sun-Times!

I hope they catch him .

Unsure why it is published here. Long way from TV.

Guess it's turning into the online V****** N*** maybe we will start getting the Crime reports in The Villages.
DAILY

Time to rename to Talk of Florida.

I live 7 minutes outside the villages yet I can be in Umatilla in 15 minutes. It is closer to the villages than you realize. First let me say shame on anybody who cares more about if it happened inside your bubble than about this poor girl. Just shameful!!

If you used your brain you would realize just how close it is and if he had a trailer attached and doing any type of construction work than chance’s are he has possibly worked in the villages or he could be working in the villages now. Reasons WHY they would put the news here with a complete description of the truck. I for one work in the villages everyday and I will keep my eyes out for a truck that matches the description. Because I care about more than myself.

And before any of you have anything to say about me not living inside the villages well listen up I have lived here my WHOLE life before most of any of you. My Grandfather sold off much of our property decades ago so the county could put roads where there wasn’t any. Yes a true Floridian! Before our beautiful land became a bunch of houses. And for anyone who says this has nothing to do with “the villages” let me ask you something. What if it was YOUR granddaughter???? Still feel as selfish now??

Signed, Someone who knows there is life beyond the villages!

Agree with you Robin, this was/is very close to TV and it should pull on all of our hearts.

You are 100% correct, took the words out of my mouth. Some Villagers are so darn self centered and have such an air of entitlement. I have a home here and return every winter....yes...a snow bird....and if you don't like it, too darn bad....anyway, the last 2 yrs it seems to be getting worse....rude,miserable old far&$. You all should be ashamed of yourself for your reaction to this story. This poor girl is someone's daughter, someone's granddaughter. This writer is correct. This town is very close, this person could be a contractor working right in your neighborhood....open your eyes people....

Let's hope he doesn't attack and rape YOUR wife while you are off golfing or whatever self absorbed activity you may be off doing.

Yeah we all saved and worked hard to have our wonderful homes and fun lives, I get it....but you have a civic duty to be a responsible participant in your community....come on, step up

Just my guess, but ....
 

Posted by The Gazette which is a weekly paper out of Ocala. Trying to drum up subscribers by posting sensational articles is my guess.
While this story is truly sad and shocking, I believe the hidden purpose of The Gazette posting is to increase readership.

Suspect arrested per Orlando News. Great police investigation and arrest.
 

Suspect arrested per Orlando news.

Huh?
 

Truly a statement of compassion and caring.......yeah, right.

This guy could be someone working in The Villages. Keep an eye out for the vehicle.

Teach your children, grandchildren, never get a car with a stranger.

I truly feel bad for this girl. The question is though why would you ever get into a vehicle with a total stranger. It’s just looking for trouble.

Spare the false indignation..
 

I have the same compassion as the next person, thank you. The fact remains that, very sadly, these horrible incidents happen more frequently than you might realize.
My previous comment was my answer to the question "why was it posted here?" Question: why is a small weekly out of Ocala regularly posting here on TOTV? To up their readership, is my guess. That's all.

They are posting in their sub-forum given to them by the TOTV Team.

" The Gazette - Local Villages News
Hello TOTV Members -

We were contacted by a local news media company months ago (not affiliated with the developer or any other online news outlet) that gives independent news and breaking stories for The Villages, Florida. Our team here at TOTV has been monitoring and enjoying this refreshing news content about The Villages and residents in The Villages. After months of consideration and review, we voted to let their articles be posted on our site each day. We are putting it as it's own forum so our users are able to comment on the articles and provide feedback or discussion.

They are local, focused on local Villager stories, FREE and not sensationalized news.

We hope you enjoy the content!

TOTV Team "

Wow! You sure are angry and harbor a lot of prejudice against villagers. You should be thankful the development of this area has given you a job.

So you are a "true Floridian." Who cares? Do you think people should not be free to move about this country? Should I live my whole life in the town I was born in?

I will never use Aloha Cleaning knowing you harbor such hatred for the people paying your bills.

Such arrogance.

You missed the point of the post. :ohdear:

No, I did not. I just chose not to address it.

People all over the world are victimized every day. I generally don't feel more or less pain for them due to their location relative to mine.

People do, however, fear for their own safety if a violent crime happens very close to them. It's natural and I would not hate someone who reacted that way.

Totally agree! Why did she get in to this truck “unless she knew him”?

:ohdear::ohdear::ohdear:
Instead, you judge & hammer the OP.
With:
You sure are angry
a lot of prejudice against villagers
You should be thankful
Such arrogance
So you are a "true Floridian." Who cares?

chilout

I responded to her hatred. It is a judgement just have you have judged me.

Perceived (by you) hatred.

& your response............well posters can draw their own conclusions.

:ohdear:

ARE YOU KIDDING?
This is a happy happy place and TV gods want to keep it that way.

Lots of home health care workers come from many different communities surrounding the Villages such as Umatilla, Eustis, Mt. Dora, Ocala, Williston, etc.

One or more of them might recognize the truck or its driver from this description in the news source.

I am feeling judged and need a hug.

Don’t be so quick to judge. Not everyone on this site lives in the villages. Personally I have been here for over 3 years and only encountered 1 person I’ll classify as an idiot.

As he said...you totally missed the point.....and no you don't need a hug. Obviously you are yet again trying to make fun here.....here's a little secret: you are not funny...but saying things like that makes a person look clueless, rude and repulsive.......your choice

Connected a lot of dots …. There didn’t you.

I can’t even get to 441 or 301 in 7 mins. Let along get down 441 or 301 in 15 mins.

Google maps.
28.3 miles 40 mins
The Villages to Umatilla

My grandfather sold his farm to other farmers.......

No judgements there.

I believe this poster is an 8 yr old....or else he's someone that really can not comprehend. Best to ignore.

Thanks for letting us know, finally.
 

Dear TOTV team,
It would have been nice if we had been made aware that this new "news outlet" was to become part of the discussion topics before they just started appearing.
As for "local", that depends on what you mean by local.
"Focused on villager stories" doesn't fit with the horrible act of rape of a young girl in a town 30 ish miles outside of The Villages. These horrible things happen everyday in our state, country and around the world. How far away do they have to be before they are not "local"? And "not sensationalized"? A story of rape is sensationalized by its very nature.
While this is news, it is tragic and horrible, and I, for one, can't say I enjoy this content. It spawns the same kinds of comments that have caused other threads to be closed.
These are my feelings on this.

:cryin2::cryin2::cryin2:

Not your site.

Don't like the news thread, don't read.

:ohdear::ohdear:

I hope this poor girl is going to be OK. I saw this on the news the other night. I hope she can give enough info to the police to catch this animal.

Now I think it's you that needs a hug.

Thank you. That is very helpful, Mr. Helpful. I do know this.
My point to the Team was that, since anyone, anywhere seems to be able to post, if a pubisher is going to be invited to start posting news stories it would be nice to know in advance.
We have plenty of news sources ( tv, radio, computer, phone, papers) but all of a sudden The Gazette started posting. I thought it odd. Silly me.
I thought this is a place where friends and neighbors posted their thoughts and experiences. Didn't know it was also a news outlet. How soon before other publisers can be expected? Will we be getting chapters of books like a weekly serial? Just wondering.
Not my site. Probably won't bother with The Gazette.
Have a nice day!

This one is done too.