‘Slit Your Throat’: Orlando Woman Says She Was Attacked, Stuffed in Trunk During Walmart Visit

ORLANDO, Florida. – An Orlando woman said she is grateful to be alive after a man attacked her while she was unloading groceries at a Walmart on Goldenrod Road on Labor Day.

The victim, Veronica Jones, described the terrifying moments she felt as if someone grabbed her from behind.

“All of a sudden, someone came up behind me and grabbed me by the arms,” Jones said. “At first I thought someone was playing a joke on me; I didn’t realize what was happening. Then he said, ‘Give me your money.’ That’s when I knew, yes, it wasn’t a joke.”

According to Orlando police, the suspect — identified as 54-year-old Juan Perez — attacked Jones in an attempt to steal her purse. He was also charged with attempted kidnapping.

Jones described how Perez tried to force her into the trunk of a car.

“Yeah, he was very persistent,” Jones said.

Surveillance footage reportedly shows Perez approaching Jones’ car and attacking her.

Jones said Perez threatened her with a sharp object.

“He said, ‘I’m going to cut your throat if you don’t stop struggling and give me money,'” she told News 6.

Jones began screaming for help. A passing customer named Elliot noticed the commotion and intervened.

“I made sure there was no one behind me who could have pulled the brakes and said, ‘Are you OK?’ She reached out — I could see it took all her strength to get out of the trunk and scream, ‘Help!’” Elliot explained.

Elliot said Perez came close to trapping Jones in the trunk before he was scared off.

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“When I walked by, he was, I could just see it, he was going to successfully get — her whole torso was in the trunk. The only thing that was sticking out was her legs. Did he just bend them, snap them, he did it in five seconds,” Elliot said.

Detectives said Perez’s probation officer helped track him down. The officer identified Perez on surveillance video and confirmed that Perez’s GPS ankle monitor placed him at Walmart at the time of the attack.

Perez is on parole after serving nearly two decades in prison for the kidnapping and assault of a 14-year-old Marion County girl, whom detectives say he forced into a van and then attacked.

Jones and Elliot were unable to meet in person, but they met again by phone.

“I’m so happy you’re here, we can hear your voice,” Elliot said. “You still have the ability to make an impression on the world, and even the bad guy couldn’t get to you. I’m so happy you’re here.”

Perez remains in the Orange County Jail without bail.

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