A man from Palm City, Florida was arrested today in Miami-Dade County on a Monroe County warrant for sexual battery.
The incident took place February 19th in the early morning hours at Point of View RV Park at the 99 mm of the highway in Key Largo. The victim and her husband were drinking at a Key Largo bar with the suspect and his girlfriend. The suspect and his girlfriend were staying in an RV at the Point of View RV Park and, when the bar closed at 1 a.m., they invited the other couple, who are from Homestead, back to the park with them to stay in their RV.
Once at the RV Park, the victim’s husband went into the RV for some water; as he was leaving the RV, he heard his wife yelling. He found her nearby on the other side of a parked vehicle, laying on the ground. He saw the suspect running away. She told him the suspect had raped her. The victim was transported to Mariner’s Hospital for treatment.
After interviews with the victim and witnesses, Major Crimes Detective Rosa DiGiovanni obtained a warrant for the suspect, identified as 25 year old Daniel Rankin of Palm City, Florida. Rankin was charged with sexual battery. Bond on the warrant is set at $100,000.00.