Armed neighbor saves woman's life from violent intruder

Originally ran here as:
Intruder brutally beats Cape woman
Police say neighbor saved victim’s life
March 18, 2001
News-Press of South Florida

By SHARON TURCO, sturco@news-press.com

FLORIDA -- A Cape Coral woman suffered critical injuries when a stranger broke into her house as she slept, molested her and then beat her unconscious, police said.

The 2:50 a.m. beating continued outside the woman’s house until a neighbor threatened to kill the attacker at gunpoint, Cape Coral police Lt. Bill Rivers said.

Rolando Mota, 20, of 1130 Patterson Road, was arrested early Saturday morning on charges of burglary with a person present, battery and sexual battery using force, Cape Coral authorities said.

Police said the woman did not know Mota but that he lived in her neighborhood.

Investigators confirmed Mota’s identity after finding his wallet in the victim’s bedroom, a report said.

He is being held in the Lee County Jail without bail.

The 45-year-old victim is being treated at Lee Memorial Hospital.

“He ruthlessly beat her, and he wouldn’t stop,” Rivers said. “That neighbor saved her life.”

Mota is accused of breaking into the woman’s house in the middle-class neighborhood that borders North Fort Myers.

The victim was asleep in bed when she woke up to find Mota standing in her room, Rivers said.

“He began beating her right there,” Rivers said.

The victim’s screams for help, that someone was raping her, woke several neighbors who called 911 as she tried to escape.

Mota, who was only wearing shorts, is accused of fondling the woman during the beating. The victim struggled against the attack so hard, officers said they found the bed knocked off its frame and blood smearing the sheets and blankets.

The victim crawled out of her house still screaming.

Paramedics arrived to find the victim naked in her yard, unconscious. Another neighbor had covered her with a blanket, Rivers said.

Officers found Mota hiding in a nearby house and witnesses confirmed he was the suspect, Rivers said.

Mota fought arrest, saying, “I ain’t got nothing,” a report said. Officers are still seeking a motive for the beating. Mota has refused to speak to investigators.

KeepAndBearArms.com Note: Had the neighbor with the gun not been armed, would this woman still be alive?  And would the violent punk be in jail? Probably not.  While the anti-rights people tell us we should get rid of guns or "get them out of your home," they are telling us to strip ourselves of our abilities to help our neighbors, and there is nothing honorable about that.

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