Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a 30-year-old man who they have labeled the “Pine Hills Rapist” for sexual attacks they believe he perpetrated on multiple women who were waiting at bus stops in Orlando.
Nelson Odige was arrested on Wednesday, March 15, and charged with multiple counts of sexual battery, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and robbery in connection with a series of sexual attacks that he is accused of over a two-month span.
On February 25, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a bus stop at Hiawassee Road and Hennepin Boulevard after receiving reports an attack that happened around 6 a.m. that day.
According to police, the Odige was wearing a mask and had a gun when he attacked women who were waiting at the bus stop.
On February 2, two separate attacks took place during the early morning hours. Those attacks also involved a man robbing and sexually assaulting women at two different times while they were waiting at another bus stop on Hiawassee Road and River Oaks Drive.
Similarly, the victims said Odige was dressed entirely in black and wore a black mask. Both victims described him as 5’3″ or 5’4″ tall.
In the weeks between the incidents, authorities say they used investigative means to eventually find a vehicle of interest. That vehicle was tied to Odige.
Since the attack on February 25, Odige was under constant surveillance, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina. Mina said that detectives followed Odige 24 hours a day in order to build a case against him.
After he was arrested on Wednesday, Mina says that Odige confessed to all four sexual assaults.
“We’re extremely happy that this predator is off the streets,” said Mina. He added that any victims who were concerned to come forward should reconsider, as Odige is incarcerated on no bond and will not be released.
Odige now faces over a dozen charges, including four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, three counts of kidnapping with a firearm, and two counts of sexual battery with a deadly weapon, among others.
Odige is currently being held at the Orange County Jail.
If you are in the area of these bus stops and see something suspicious, please call 911 or the Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-8477.