More than two months after a woman was brutally raped and beaten in the Florida Keys, authorities say they've arrested the man responsible.
Johnny Lee Hayes, 53, was arrested in Marathon Monday night on charges including forcible sexual battery with a weapon, kidnapping, aggravated battery and robbery with a weapon, Monroe County Sheriff's Office officials said.
Hayes was being held without bond Tuesday, jail records showed. It was unknown if he's hired an attorney.
Officials said the woman was walking to a bar on the south side of U.S. 1 near the Tavernier Creek Bridge the night of March 13 when she was grabbed by Hayes. She tried to fight him off but he hit her with a weapon, officials said.
Hayes told her he would kill her but would let her live if she stopped fighting, officials said. She said he choked her and she lost consciousness and when she woke up he was on top of her, raping and hitting her, officials said.
Hayes told the woman he'd done the same thing to six other women and had been to prison, officials said. After the rape he took her money and told her to wait 15 minutes, saying he'd be watching her, officials said.
The woman went to a nearby business where an employee called for help. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for broken ribs, a broken bone in her face and numerous contusions.
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DNA evidence was identified as belonging to Hayes, who has an extensive arrest history that includes arrests for drug trafficking, sales and possession, robbery, tampering with a witness, escape, burglary, driving with a suspended license, and violating probation, officials said.
