Kidnapper Tortured Woman, Drove Her Around Tampa Bay For Months: HCSO

SEFFNER, FL — A man faces multiple charges after holding a woman captive and abusing her while driving her around the Tampa Bay area in a van for months, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Walter Medina, 48, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, armed kidnapping, armed false imprisonment, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, tampering with a witness and tampering with physical evidence.

Additional charges may be forthcoming from other involved law enforcement agencies, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies responded to a Mobil gas station in Seffner after a caller reported that an injured woman had just escaped from a van and needed help.

The victim met Medina in January while panhandling in the area of Hillsborough Avenue and Habana Avenue, the sheriff’s office said.

He initially brought her food and drugs before turning violent and subjecting her to months of physical abuse and captivity.

Medina repeatedly assaulted the victim using a wooden baseball bat and a flathead screwdriver, inflicting severe injuries on her, including broken ribs, deep puncture wounds, and extensive bruising, HCSO said.

Over the course of about two-and-a-half months, the woman “endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of Medina as he forcibly transported her around the Tampa Bay area and threatened to kill her if she fled or sought help,” the agency said.

She was able to escape when Medina briefly left her unattended at a Walgreens.

When deputies arrived, they noted that the victim had numerous injuries to her face and body. She was brought to a local hospital for treatment.

Medina was arrested following a pursuit with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Lakeland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol on Tuesday.

"I can’t imagine the torture this victim endured for months, but I can imagine the relief she felt when our deputies arrived,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I have to commend the bravery of the victim for escaping her captor and seeking help. Our thoughts are with her as she recovers from this traumatic ordeal.”

Medina has served time in prison for a previous false imprisonment case. He has an arrest history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and robbery, HCSO said.