Deputies searching for person accused of kidnapping, raping woman, leaving her on side of Marion County road

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Marion County deputies are searching for the person they said kidnapped, raped and then left a woman semi-unconscious on the side of a road Tuesday morning.

Deputies said the woman was kidnapped near the 9000 block of Baseline Road between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

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Investigators said she was forced into a vehicle by an unknown person, rendered unconscious and driven away from the area.

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Deputies said the woman was raped while she was unconscious before being left along the side of Highway 314 near the Marshal Swamp Trailhead. To get from one location to another is about a 20 minute drive.

Investigators described the incident as “a heinous crime.”

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have seen something Tuesday morning related to the crime, possibly a vehicle driving erratically along Baseline Road Tuesday morning, to call the office at 352-732-9111 or contact Detective Burleson directly at 352-368-3542.

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“At that time of day, somebody saw something,” Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement. “We need your help to seek justice for the victim and get this violent criminal off of our streets.”

If someone would like the make a tip anonymously, they can call Marion County Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP(7867) and reference tip 21-18.

Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates.