Police: Man raped, tortured homeless pregnant woman
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Police in Daytona Beach have arrested a convicted sex offender after a homeless pregnant woman was tied up and tortured.
John Lytus, 52, remained in the Volusia County Jail on Tuesday after his arrest last week on charges that include sexual battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Lytus was convicted of first-degree rape in Rockland, New York, in 1986.
An arrest affidavit says the incident happened in a recreational vehicle in September after Lytus picked up the woman. The woman told investigators Lytus threatened to kill her if she didn't do what he told her.
She says she was hog-tied and attacked for about 12 hours. The following day, the suspect allegedly returned the victim to where she was picked up, according to CBS affiliate WKMG.
Upon a warranted search of Lytus' vehicle, investigators said that they found several pieces of potential evidence, according to the station.
The victim later picked Lytus out of a photo lineup. Police say that a prostitute in the area described a similar incident, reported the station.
Lytus is also a person of interest in a death investigation being conducted by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, according to WKMG.
It was not known whether Lytus has a lawyer.