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A Hunch Leads To Arrest In Town 'N Country Rape Case

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 2, 2008

Raymond Marston

TAMPA - A man accused by detectives of beating and raping a woman in Town 'N Country on May 26 was charged Friday in connection with the crime, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

Raymond Marston, 49, was charged with sexual battery, kidnapping, aggravated battery and robbery.

On Tuesday, sheriff's Detective Geoff Harris was continuing the investigation near the area where the incident took place and spotted a man on a bicycle matching the description of the suspect, investigators said.

The man, later identified as Marston, was arrested on a charge of trespassing at a convenience store on Hillsborough Avenue and Memorial Highway. On a hunch, Harris contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and discovered that evidence taken from the victim matched Marston's DNA, the sheriff's office said. Marston's DNA had been entered into FDLE's database after he was arrested on a previous burglary charge.

On Friday, detectives added the additional charges after the DNA results came back from FDLE's lab.

The 21-year-old woman was attacked as she walked home from work May 26 along Sheldon Road. She was struck in the face at least eight times. Her face was covered in a T-shirt when she was forced to crawl along a bridge walkway, detectives said. The attacker threatened to kill her and stole money from her purse.

The victim suffered facial fractures, a fractured hand, cuts and bruises, detectives said.

Marston is being held at Orient Road Jail with no bail set.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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