Bruce Whitehead: Docs claimed man who brutally raped woman days after prison release 'wouldn't reoffend'
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: A former convict who served 20 years in prison for brutally raping and mutilating a woman committed the same crime again just days after his release. Doctors had claimed that he would "wouldn't reoffend," following his release from the prison. Bruce Whitehead, 54, was arrested in Orlando five days after he allegedly drove a woman into a wooded area. He held her down with a knife, raped her and then tried to kill her, investigators said.
According to the affidavit obtained by The Blaze, Whitehead had agreed to pay the woman $850 to let him "paint her for an hour." Reports in the New York Post say he picked her up near a strip club in Orlando around 4.am on Saturday, December 10 after she "willingly" got into his car. The woman sought help from bystanders after surviving the horrific attack. The following Thursday, December 15, Whitehead was arrested after an 'observant resident' spotted him.
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Whitehead, who is equally infamous for his looks, had tried to hide a massive 'sacrifice' forehead tattoo by wearing a hat, but was immediately arrested after the Orange County Sheriff's office received a tip on Thursday, December 15. "Brutal rapist Bruce Whitehead is in OCSO custody, thanks to a tip at 7 a.m. today [Dec 15] from an observant resident!" police tweeted of the incident. "Whitehead raped and tried to murder a woman Dec 10. Thank you to our community members and media partners for making sure his face was everywhere."
CAPTURED!
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) December 15, 2022
Brutal rapist Bruce Whitehead is in OCSO custody, thanks to a tip at 7 a.m. today from an observant resident! Whitehead raped and tried to murder a woman Dec. 10.
Thank you to our community members and media partners for making sure his face was everywhere. pic.twitter.com/OzwF4mkiev
Fox 35 reported that residents could not believe that Whitehead had been right under their noses. "That's really crazy. It's literally in our backyard. It's such a nice neighborhood, nothing happens here," said Nick Siviga to the broadcaster. Whitehead reportedly approached the victim when she was standing near the intersection of Sand Lake Road and South Orange Blossom Trail with her friends, according to an arrest affidavit from the OCSO. He claimed to be an artist in front of the woman and offered her $850 to paint her for an hour. The victim got into Whitehead's car, and he drove her to the Highland Lakes Center shopping plaza.
The report stated that the criminal forced her to lie down in the backseat while holding a knife to her chin. Whitehead then reportedly drove the victim to a parking lot in Pine Hills, pulled her out of the car, and walked her to a wooded area. He then cut her clothes off and mutilated her body. After sexually assaulting the victim, Whitehead stabbed several times in her chest. However, the woman fought him off by kicking him in the chest and face before running away for help.
People in the neighborhood claimed that they are delighted to see the sick psycho back in the prison. "We don't need that. We don't need that anywhere. Children and families live here. He doesn't need to be here. Absolutely not!" said Clyde Sales to the broadcaster. Whitehead was charged with sexual battery, attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery, and armed robbery for the latest incident. Police did not specify how the latest victim had been allegedly mutilated in the attack.
"In my time here at the sheriff's office, this is probably one of the more egregious offenses," said Evan Avila of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "Personally, I would qualify him as a monster. That's my personal take." Luckily, the victim will recover, says the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
News4jax reported that earlier this year Whitehead was released from prison after two doctors found that he'd "changed and no longer posed a risk of reoffending". The 54-year-old was previously accused of raping a woman in 1986 but he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery charges and served 35 days. He was released a week later while he was on probation but he kidnapped another woman at knifepoint in Jacksonville, assaulted her, and stabbed her 25 times.
For most of his adult life, Whitehead had spent time in prison. He served 20 years as part of a plea deal to the 1986 rape and attempted murder in Duval County and was designated a 'sexually violent predator', spending 15 more years in custody. Whitehead previously testified that he was sexually abused by two people when he was a child.
According to the outlet, court records also revealed that Whitehead testified about having fantasies about rape and murder from a young age and that he had an issue with drinking. "I want to be very clear that most people who have been sexually abused do not go on to abuse," Counselor Lori Osachy told. In 2009, a psychiatrist testified it was his opinion that Whitehead "is one of the most dangerous and violent individuals I've ever evaluated." Whitehead had been kicked out of sex offender treatment in prison multiple times including for propositioning the therapist, claimed the therapist. "If they are not receptive to treatment, usually treatment can work, but if they are not receptive to it, they're unwilling participants, it, of course, points to a more likely for them to commit again," Osachy said.
A jury declared him a sexually violent predator even though he testified he'd changed in 2009. Whitehead was committed to a civil facility for custody and treatment but he is now once again accused of armed rape, kidnapping, and attempted murder despite years of therapy and the opinions of doctors that he no longer posed a risk. He is now awaiting a fresh trial.