Man charged in 2012 rape, kidnapping of Florida teen following ICE operation
Courtesy: Hendry County Sheriff's Office
HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. - A 14-year-old cold case involving the kidnapping and sexual assault of a teenage girl in Florida has been solved following a DNA match from a recent immigration operation.
Eliseo Garcia-Zunun arrest in Florida
What we know:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers apprehended 38-year-old Eliseo Garcia-Zunun in Hendry County on Aug. 8. Following his arrest, authorities identified Garcia-Zunun as an illegal immigrant, collected a DNA sample, and transferred him to California while he awaited deportation.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement processed the DNA sample and notified the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 16 that it matched a profile in the National DNA Database.
Unsolved 2012 LaBelle sexual assault
The backstory:
On Feb. 7, 2012, authorities said an unknown man grabbed a 14-year-old girl near her home, threw her to the ground, and dragged her inside her residence, where she was forcibly raped.
Hendry County detectives responded to the scene and collected evidence that was processed by the FDLE lab to generate the original DNA profile, but the case remained unsolved for 14 years.
Extradition from California jail
What's next:
After receiving the DNA match, Hendry County detectives obtained an arrest warrant and traveled to Fresno, California. Working alongside ICE officials, detectives took custody of Garcia-Zunun and brought him back to Florida.
Garcia-Zunun was booked into the Hendry County Jail on charges of sexual battery and kidnapping. He is currently held without bond.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released details regarding court dates or legal representation for Garcia-Zunun.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from official statements and law enforcement records provided by the Hendry County Sheriff's Office.