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Pocono News Section
Man Accused of Raping, Strangling Girl
Man Accused of Raping, Strangling Girl - Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 10:30PM EST
Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 @ 10:30pm EST
TAYLOR, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- A Lackawanna County man is behind bars after what police call a brutal attack on an innocent child early Sunday morning.
Taylor police say 40-year-old Felix Montoya beat and raped a five-year-old girl so severely, she needed surgery.
We asked Montoya what he's say to the little girl's family, to which he replied, "Sorry. Really, I'm sorry."
Montoya and the victim both live in the Maple Manor mobile home park in Taylor. Investigators say Montoya showed up uninvited to the victim's parents' 4th of July party Saturday night.
"Basically, he was asked to leave because he appeared to be intoxicated at that point in time," said Taylor Police K-9 Officer Keith Froese, who responded to the scene.
He left but returned, and police say he got inside the home a couple hours later without anyone knowing. The girl's mother went upstairs to check on her children, but her five-year-old daughter's bedroom was locked, something she says never happens. After a couple minutes of coaxing her, the mother says her daughter came out crying. Her mother saw a man's arm hanging out under her daughter's bed. The girl's step-father didn't let Montoya get away, and they called 911.
"He was naked from the waste down in the child's bedroom, wearing only a t-shirt and sneakers," added Froese.
Montoya faces several charges, including rape of a child with serious injury and attempted murder. Police say he beat the child, bit her multiple times, and strangled her to within seconds of death. Inside the courtroom at his arraignment, Montoya had his head down and told the judge he was sorry, that he never did anything like this before, and that it was stupid. Investigators say it's the most disturbing case they've handled.
"In my career, this is absolutely the most difficult case I've worked," said Froese.
"Our hope and prayer is that this little girl has the opportunity to heal," added Gene Talerico, first assistant district attorney in Lackawanna County. "And our job will be focusing on doing our best to make sure justice is served for her."
The little girl underwent surgery Sunday at Scranton CMC and is expected to recover.
Montoya was taken to Lackawanna County Prison in lie of $200,000 bail. He faces a preliminary hearing next week. | | |
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