Victim says she was raped in Estero movie theater bathroom

Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a female victim’s home, where she reported she was raped in the men’s bathroom at Regal Coconut Point movie theater in Estero Saturday.

The victim and her parent to reported the crime to the responding deputy.

According to the LCSO incident report, the victim was at the movie theater and went to use the bathroom, and the suspect went with her. When she reached the bathrooms, she said the suspect forced her into the men’s room and committed a sex act on her.

The victim told the deputy she did not consent to the sex act by the suspect. And she waited to report the sex crime because she was scared.

The incident is under investigation of the LCSO Special Victim’s Unit.

All names are protected by Marsy’s Law.

Female shoppers at Coconut Point were quick to stand up for the victim’s report.

“I feel like that’s an attack on me,” Orville Cameron said. “I can feel that personally”

Stephanie Bruno who works next to the theater agrees with Cameron.

“The stereotypes are true, and I need to protect myself,” Bruno said. “I always carry pepper spray. Carry your keys out, and make sure you’re on guard all the time”

We spoke to the manager of the movie theater and asked him if he heard about the victim’s report, and he said he did not know and couldn’t comment. He also declined an interview.

“It is scary to actually be in public anymore,” Heather Beltz said. “Because you’re afraid of where you wanna go and just to feel unsafe even in your hometown or even if you’re from out of town because you can’t go anywhere”