A suspect has been arrested in two forcible rapes in Summerfield.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detective Henrik Osthed arrested 30-year-old Dionne Le Trell Southall for sexual battery with use of a deadly weapon. After investigating a separate report of sexual violence, Sgt. Annemarie Larocque also charged Southall with sexual battery and battery by strangulation while he was in custody at the Marion County Jail.
On May 25, Sgt. Larocque began investigating a sexual battery that occurred in the 17800 block of SE 109th Avenue, in Summerfield. The victim advised that she received a Facebook friend request from a white male named “Chris Rous”, with whom she had been communicating for the past three days. After arranging to meet with “Chris,”the victim was instructed to walk to the back of a business in the area and meet him by a gate. She was then met by Southall, who was hiding in the bushes and had been using a fake profile to lure the victim. The victim advised that Southall demanded that she remove her clothes, threatened her with a knife, and then forcibly raped her. The victim was eventually able to escape and seek help from an ambulance that happened to be nearby. She was transported to the hospital for treatment, and a sexual assault examination was completed.
While Sgt. Larocque’s investigation continued, Detective Osthed was notified of another sexual battery that occurred on July 13 in the 10700 block of SE 173rd Street, Summerfield. The victim in this case advised that she was walking to Walmart when a man, later identified as Southall, approached her on a bicycle and offered her a ride. He then offered this victim $100 for a “good time”. The victim refused his offer repeatedly. She advised that Southall became angry and forced her into a secluded area between two buildings. He then removed the victim’s clothing, strangled her, caused her to lose consciousness, and forcibly raped her. After the rape, Southall left the area, and the victim reported the crime to law enforcement. A sexual assault examination was also completed.
Through further investigation, Southall was identified after sending a Facebook friend request to the first victim. Detectives also gathered evidence from the crime scenes and DNA from the sexual assault kits, which matched Southall’s DNA. After receiving the DNA report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Detective Osthed obtained a warrant for Southall’s arrest.
Southhall had been arrested in 2021 in the theft of an ATV. Southall also was arrested in Leesburg in January 2015 along with three other men after loaded weapons and marijuana were discovered in their vehicle during a traffic stop. Southall, who was 19 at the time, was arrested on charges of possession a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with physical evidence.
Southall remains in custody at the Marion County Jail, where he is held without bond. Due to the nature of these crimes and the clear pattern of the repeated offenses, MCSO detectives believe Southall may have additional victims. Anyone with information about other crimes committed by Southall is urged to contact MCSO at (352) 732-9111.