A horrifying incident unfolded in Washington County, Florida, where a woman managed to escape from a storage container after being assaulted by a man identified as David Earl Gipson. Gipson, 40, is facing charges of sexual battery, aggravated battery, and false imprisonment as per the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim, whose identity has been kept confidential, suffered severe injuries and required immediate medical attention upon being rescued by law enforcement. She recounted that Gipson visited her residence, flew into a rage, and proceeded to physically assault her. The woman claimed that he bound her, gagged her, and threatened to kill her while subjecting her to sexual assault and brutal beatings with a handgun and other objects.
After the initial assault at her residence, Gipson allegedly transported the victim to his own residence, where the abuse continued. He eventually locked her in a container in the yard, leaving her handcuffed, naked, and unable to breathe properly due to being hogtied. Miraculously, the woman managed to free herself from the container and escape to safety.
Tragically, another victim, 74-year-old Lettie Cooper Collins, was found deceased and severely beaten in her home. Gipson, with a lengthy criminal history dating back to the late ’90s, has a record of 33 felony charges and multiple prison sentences for offenses including burglary and arson.
Sheriff Kevin Crews expressed deep regret for the harrowing ordeal faced by the victims and their family. He credited the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies in capturing Gipson and emphasized the importance of community support in such cases. The Sheriff’s Office is now pursuing murder charges against Gipson for Collins’ death, while the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
