ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando woman says she is thankful to be alive after a man attacked her while she was unloading groceries at a Walmart off Goldenrod Road on Labor Day.
The victim, Veronica Jones, recounted the terrifying moments when she felt someone grab her from behind.
“Then, all of a sudden, someone came up from behind me and pulled me with his arms.” Jones said. “First, I thought it was someone doing a joke on me; I didn’t realize what was going on. Then, he said, ‘Give me your cash.’ Then, I knew, yeah, it wasn’t a joke.”
According to Orlando police, the suspect — identified as 54-year-old Juan Perez — attacked Jones in an attempt to steal her purse. He has also been charged with attempted kidnapping.
Jones described how Perez tried to force her into the trunk of her car.
“Yeah, he was being very forceful,” Jones said.
Surveillance video reportedly shows Perez walking to Jones’ vehicle and attacking her.
Jones said Perez threatened her with a sharp object.
“He said, ‘I’m going to slice your throat if you don’t stop struggling and give me your cash,’” she told News 6.
Jones began screaming for help. A passing shopper named Elliot saw the commotion and intervened.
“Making sure no one was behind me to brake and say, ‘Are you okay?’ She took — I could tell she mustered all strength to pull herself out of the trunk to say, ‘Help!’” Elliot explained.
Elliot said Perez appeared to be moments away from trapping Jones in the trunk before being scared away.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“At the time that I passed by, he was, I could just see it, he was successfully about to get — her whole torso was in the trunk. The only thing sticking out were her legs. Had he just bent them in, slammed, done in five seconds tops,” Elliot said.
Detectives stated Perez’s probation officer helped track him down. The officer identified Perez from the surveillance video and confirmed that Perez’s GPS ankle monitor placed him at the Walmart during the time of the attack.
Perez is on active probation after serving nearly two decades in prison for kidnapping and assaulting a 14-year-old Marion County girl, whom detectives said he shoved into a van before attacking.
Jones and Elliot were unable to meet in person, but they reunited over the phone.
“I’m so glad that you are here, we can hear your voice,” Elliot said. “You are still able to make an impression on the world, and even an evil man couldn’t get you. I’m so glad you are here.”
Perez is being held in the Orange County Jail without bond.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: