Florida Teen Arrested in Sexual Assault Case of 91-Year-Old Reic Woman
In June 2024, a horrific crime shocked the small community of Reic, Florida when a 91-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her own home during the night. Law enforcement responded immediately, securing the scene and beginning an intensive investigation that involved canvassing the neighborhood, collecting critical evidence, and interviewing potential witnesses. The elderly victim, despite suffering significant facial injuries and trauma, provided detailed information about her attacker.
The investigation quickly focused on 14-year-old Jesse Stone after deputies noticed a red stain on his clothing during neighborhood canvassing. After obtaining consent from his grandmother for DNA testing, investigators made a startling discovery eight days later when test results linked Stone's DNA to evidence found at the crime scene. Following this breakthrough, detectives brought Stone in for questioning, where body camera footage captured the intense interview process that would ultimately lead to serious charges against the teenager.
Key Takeaways
A 91-year-old woman in Reic, Florida was sexually assaulted in her home, prompting an immediate and comprehensive police response.
Evidence collection and neighborhood interviews formed the foundation of the investigation, with officers documenting a trail of physical evidence.
DNA testing linked 14-year-old Jesse Stone to the crime scene, resulting in his detention and formal questioning by detectives.
The Investigation Aftermath
Response When the Elderly Victim Called
Deputy body cameras captured the immediate response to a disturbing emergency call from a 91-year-old woman in Reic, Florida, who reported being sexually assaulted in her home during the night of June 9, 2024. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the elderly victim with significant facial injuries and a large gash on her arm. The woman described her attacker as someone who "sounded Hispanic" and provided details about the assault, noting that it lasted approximately 15-20 minutes and ended about 5-10 minutes before authorities arrived.
Deputies quickly mobilized additional resources as they recognized the severity of the case. They requested crime scene investigators, K-9 units, and additional personnel to assist with the investigation. A female deputy was assigned to accompany the victim to the hospital, providing her with more comfort during the traumatic experience.
The victim told deputies the attacker had approached as a shadow before violently assaulting her. She reported that during the attack, she had tried to fight back by pushing him off, but he struck her face with his fists. When she prayed for help, the attacker demanded she "shut up." The woman's detailed account helped investigators understand the nature of the crime and begin their search for the perpetrator.
Evidence Collection at the Crime Scene
Investigators meticulously documented and preserved evidence found at the location. Blood was discovered on the victim's bed, and officers carefully collected her clothing, ensuring the dress and undergarments were placed in separate evidence bags. This physical evidence would prove crucial in identifying the perpetrator.
Deputies noted that the victim's account matched the physical evidence they observed at the scene. There were no signs of the victim falling or injuring herself accidentally, which validated her statement about being attacked.
While securing the crime scene, officers also canvassed the neighborhood for potential witnesses. They spoke with several neighbors, including:
A man who lived nearby with his son, daughter, and son-in-law (who were visiting from West Virginia)
A resident who had known the victim since he was 10 years old
A neighbor who had been working in his shop during the time of the attack
Eight days after the assault, DNA results revealed a match to a 14-year-old boy named Jesse Stone, whom investigators had previously encountered in the neighborhood. They had noticed a red stain on his clothes and obtained a DNA sample with his grandmother's consent. This evidence led to Jesse being brought in for questioning, where detectives discovered he had seen the victim earlier that day and had been captured on video in the area that night.
Crime Scene Investigation and Witness Gathering
Property Assessment and Scene Containment
Deputies from the Martin County Sheriff's Office arrived at the home of a 91-year-old woman in Rieic, Florida during the early morning hours of June 9, 2024. They immediately began searching the property for potential suspects or individuals who might be hiding nearby. Officers acted quickly to secure the crime scene, applying police tape around the premises and preserving potential evidence.
Several specialized units were called to the location, including major crimes investigators, K-9 units, and evidence collection teams. A female deputy was assigned to accompany the elderly victim to the hospital, providing both security and comfort during medical examination and treatment. Blood evidence was visible on the victim's bed, and investigators collected the victim's clothing, carefully separating her dress and undergarments into individual evidence bags.
Neighborhood Canvassing for Witness Accounts
Officers spoke with multiple residents in the surrounding area to gather information about potential suspicious activities. One neighbor reported no unusual sightings but mentioned they had been inside their home since approximately 9:30 PM and only emerged after noticing police vehicles arriving. This resident noted they had dogs in their yard that would have alerted them to trespassers.
Another neighbor was questioned the following day and stated they had been working in their backyard workshop during the incident but heard no unusual sounds or calls for help. This witness confirmed speaking briefly with deputies during the initial response but had nothing significant to report. When asked about surveillance systems, this neighbor indicated they owned cameras but hadn't installed them yet due to physical limitations.
Developing Suspect Information
The victim provided investigators with a description of her attacker, stating he sounded Hispanic and had instructed her to remain still during the assault. She reported significant facial injuries and a large cut on her arm resulting from the attack. According to her statement, the assault lasted approximately 15-20 minutes, with the perpetrator leaving 5-10 minutes before police arrived.
During their neighborhood canvas, deputies encountered a 14-year-old boy named Jesse Stone. Officers noticed a red stain on his clothing that warranted further investigation. With his grandmother's consent, investigators collected a DNA sample from the boy for testing. Eight days after the assault, laboratory results revealed Jesse Stone's DNA matched evidence collected from the 91-year-old victim, leading to his detention for questioning at the sheriff's office.
Key Findings and Suspect Capture
Identifying Jesse Stone as the Prime Suspect
During the investigation of the 91-year-old woman's sexual assault in Reic, Florida, detectives initially encountered 14-year-old Jesse Stone while canvassing the neighborhood. Officers noticed a suspicious red stain on his clothing, which prompted them to request a DNA sample. With his grandmother's consent, investigators collected a swab from the teenager.
The boy was known to the victim, who referred to him as "Randy John." She had informed detectives that he had visited her earlier on the day of the attack. Video surveillance from the area also placed Jesse in the neighborhood during the timeframe of the assault.
DNA Analysis Confirms Connection
Eight days after the brutal attack, forensic results delivered conclusive evidence linking Jesse Stone to the crime. Laboratory testing confirmed that the teenager's DNA was present on the 91-year-old victim, providing investigators with the critical evidence needed to make an arrest.
Following these findings, deputies took Jesse into custody and brought him to the sheriff's office in handcuffs. He was placed alone in an interview room for more than two hours before being moved to a formal interrogation area where his grandmother, who was raising him, joined for the questioning.
During the subsequent interview, detectives asked Jesse if he remembered his activities on the night of the assault. He admitted to being unable to sleep that night and walking around the neighborhood, including watching cars returning from a concert. When questioned, Jesse acknowledged seeing the victim earlier that day, confirming she had been sitting in her rocking chair on her front porch.
Interview With Jesse Stone
Legal Rights and Initial Questions
Detectives began the interview with Jesse Stone by confirming he understood the difference between truth and lies. Jesse defined truth as "what actually happened" and lies as "something made up or not true." The officers read Jesse his rights before proceeding with the questioning. During this preliminary phase, they established rapport and ensured Jesse was comfortable, offering water and providing a blanket when he appeared cold in the interview room.
Jesse waited approximately two hours before the formal interview began. His grandmother, who was his primary caregiver, was brought in to be present during the questioning. The detectives maintained a calm, methodical approach as they prepared to discuss the serious allegations.
Neighborhood Presence Investigation
The detectives questioned Jesse about his activities on the night of June 8th, 2024. Jesse explained he had trouble sleeping that night and decided to go for a walk. He stated:
"I couldn't go to sleep so I got up and headed down the road to watch the cars coming from the concert. I watched cars, only modified vehicles, for a while and then I went walking across the street for, I'm guessing, an hour before I came home."
Investigators had video evidence placing Jesse in the area during the timeframe of the assault. This footage had already drawn their attention to him as a potential person of interest. They also noted that during their initial neighborhood canvass, they had observed a suspicious red stain on Jesse's clothing, which prompted them to request a DNA sample with his grandmother's consent.
Correlation Between Victim's Account and Jesse's Statements
The detectives carefully compared Jesse's statements with the 91-year-old victim's account. The woman had previously mentioned that a boy she knew as "Randy John" had visited her hours before the assault. When questioned about this, Jesse confirmed seeing the elderly woman sitting in her rocking chair on her front porch.
This correlation was significant because the victim's description of events included specific details that investigators needed to verify. According to case documents, the victim had reported being attacked in her bed, punched in the face, and sexually assaulted. The investigation took a definitive turn when, eight days after the incident, DNA evidence collected from the victim matched Jesse's sample.
The detectives' questioning strategy aimed to reconcile the physical evidence with Jesse's account of his activities that night, while also addressing the substantial injuries sustained by the elderly victim, which included facial injuries and a large gash on her arm.
