Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has announced that his deputies have arrested a Honduran illegal alien after he broke into the home of a random 77-year-old woman around 4 a.m. Saturday, raped her, slapped her when she tried to get away, chased her when she ran for the front door, dragged her back inside, and choked her.
Authorities identified the alien as 24-year-old Axel Antonio Espinal Herrera of Honduras.
In a video posted to X, Judd called the attack one of the most horrific crimes the county has seen in a long time. He described it as “over-the-top,” “vicious,” and “violent, out-of-control.”
WATCH:
#BREAKING Polk deputies capture violent rapist illegally in the country from Honduras hours after he breaks into elderly victim’s home and sexually batters her
The 77-year-old victim was awakened at around 4 am, Saturday, August 29, 2026, after she heard a noise. The unknown man… pic.twitter.com/W5aF9wdrlg
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) August 31, 2026
“This couldn’t have occurred if [Herrera] was not in this country. He was a young man, 24 years of age, sexually battering a 77-year-old woman after he broke into her house in the middle of the night. Do I need to say more?” Judd explained.
The sheriff added, “Sexual battery of an individual is without a doubt one of the most horrific crimes that occurs. And a violent, out-of-control sexual battery on a stranger even elevates that one more level. And then you take, on top of that, the suspect is in this country illegally, that pushes it over the top.”
Investigators say they found Herrera showering at a neighboring house after his description and clothing matched the victim’s account.
Fox News reports:
A statement by the office said the elderly victim awoke after a noise and saw an unknown man who entered her bedroom, forcibly removed her clothes and sexually battered her, slapping her when she attempted to get away.
The office said the victim “attempted to escape through the front door when the suspect went into the bathroom, but the suspect chased after her and dragged her back inside and choked her.”
After the assault, the suspect vacated the scene, which is when the victim contacted the sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s Office detectives canvassed the neighborhood and encountered Herrera in a nearby home with two other illegal immigrants, also from Honduras.
The victim picked him out of a lineup.
Herrera is charged with kidnapping, sexual battery by force, burglary with battery, tampering with evidence, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and loitering and prowling.
Fox News reported that Florida law bumps each count up a category because he is in the country illegally, which can put multiple life sentences on the table if he is convicted.
ICE has lodged a detainer.
The two other illegal aliens in the house were also taken into custody on ICE holds.
