Who is Walter Medina, Tampa Man Arrested for Kidnapping and Torturing Female Victim for 2 Months?

A 48-year-old Tampa man, Walter Medina, has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and attempted 2nd-degree murder, among others.

Medina is accused of kidnapping a female victim and abusing her for 2+ months while keeping her in captivity.

She was able to escape from his van and get help.

Walter Medina Tampa

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a gas station in Seffner on Monday after a caller reported that an injured female had just escaped from a van and needed help.

The unidentified victim had met the suspect, 48-year-old Walter Medina, in January 2024 while she was panhandling in the area of Hillsborough Avenue and Habana Avenue.

Deputies say in the beginning, Medina gave her food and drugs, but he turned violent and physically abused her relentlessly and kept her captive for months.

Medina had repeatedly assaulted the victim using weapons like a wooden baseball bat and a flathead screwdriver and caused injuries not limited to broken ribs, deep puncture wounds and extensive bruising.

“Over the course of approximately 2.5 months, the victim 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,” deputies said.

According to HCSO, the victim escaped when Medina briefly left her unattended at a Walgreens.

When Deputies arrived, they saw several injuries to the victim’s face and body. She was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.

“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.”

HCSO obtained an arrest warrant for Medina on charges including Attempted second-degree murder, Armed kidnapping, Armed false imprisonment, Aggravated battery with great bodily harm, Tampering with a witness, and Tampering with physical evidence.

According to HCSO, the suspect has previously served time in prison for a false imprisonment case and has an arrest history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and robbery.

Medina was arrested Tuesday in Orange County following a multi-county pursuit involving the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department released the following statement following Medina’s arrest: “A violent suspect is under arrest after inflicting months of captivity and abuse.

“On Monday, April 1, 2024, HCSO deputies were dispatched to a Mobil gas station in Seffner after a caller reported an injured female had just escaped from a van and needed help.

“The suspect, Walter Medina was arrested following a pursuit with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol on April 2, 2024.

“This suspect’s reign of violent terror is now over,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.

“I am endlessly grateful for our law enforcement partners who put their lives on the line in service and protection of our community while apprehending this suspect.

“This joint effort exemplifies the strength of our community’s law enforcement network and our shared commitment to keeping our streets safe,”

Prior to his capture, Walter Medina executed multiple attempts to escape law enforcement pursuit.

He reportedly weaved in and out of traffic recklessly during the chase while at one point when he encountered heavy traffic, Medina started driving on the left shoulder at more than 100 mph.

Law enforcement attempted two PIT maneuvers, but both were unsuccessful.

FHP says Medina exited on John Young Parkway and crashed into the concrete median barrier. That’s when a K-9 was deployed and the suspect was apprehended by law enforcement.

Related – Suspect Captured for Morrow County shooting

Joshua Boucher, 43, has been arrested in connection with the Morrow County shooting after a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies on Monday.

The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office was searching for a suspect, identified as Joshua Boucher, after he sped away from the scene of a shooting that happened in the 6700 block of State Route 95.

Morrow County deputies said after the shooting, Boucher fled in a white sedan.

The search involved law enforcement in several counties including the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, among others.

Tampa

Tampa is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city’s borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay.

Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County. With an estimated population of 398,173 in 2022, Tampa is the 49th-most populous city in the country and the third-most populous city in Florida after Jacksonville and Miami.

Tampa was founded as a military center during the 19th century with the establishment of Fort Brooke.

The cigar industry was also brought to the city by Vincente Martinez Ybor, after whom Ybor City is named. Tampa was reincorporated as a city in 1887 following the Civil War. Tampa’s economy is driven by tourism, health care, finance, insurance, technology, construction, and the maritime industry.

The bay’s port is the largest in the state, responsible for over $15 billion in economic impact.

Hillsborough County is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metropolitan area.

A 2021 estimate has the population of Hillsborough County at 1,512,070 people with a yearly growth rate of 1.34%, which itself is greater than the populations of 12 states according to their 2019 population estimates.

Its county seat and largest city is Tampa.

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