Man Accused Of Beating, Raping Tavernier Woman
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - An Upper Keys man is accused of violently raping and beating a Tavernier woman earlier this year.
On March 13th, the woman was walking along U.S. 1 to meet friends at a bar when a man, later identified as 53-year old Johnny Hayes, grabbed her. She said at first, she thought it was her friends playing a joke on her when someone grabbed her. She then realized she did not know the man who had grabbed her.
The woman said when she fought back as he dragged her into some bushes, he began to hit her with some kind of weapon.
Hayes reportedly told her he would kill her, but would let her live if she stopped fighting. She said he choked her as well and she lost consciousness for a period of time. When she woke up, he was still on top of her raping her and hitting her. She said during the attack, Hayes told her she'd done this to six other women and had been to prison.
After the rape, he took her money, told her to wait 15 minutes and that he would be watching her. She tried to wave people down for help, but no one would stop. She walked to a nearby business where an employee called for help.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated for her extensive injuries, including broken ribs, a broken bone in her face and numerous contusions.
DNA believed to be from the suspect was collected and sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for possible identification. FDLE identified the DNA as belonging to Hayes, who has an extensive arrest history.
Hayes was arrested Monday night in Marathon. He was charged with forcible sexual battery with a weapon, a life felony; He was also charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery and robbery with a weapon. He was booked into jail. Total bond on the charges is $525,000.
