Police announce arrest in rape of 70-year-old woman at Living Word Fellowship Church

TAMPA - Police arrested a man who, they say, sexually assaulted a 70-year-old woman inside a Tampa church last week.

DNA evidence taken from the victim matched the FDLE profile of Demetreius Martees Morris, 26, of Tampa.

The rape happened in broad daylight at the Living Word Fellowship last Thursday morning.  Investigators say a man tricked the elderly woman, who is affiliated with the church, by claiming he was interested in seeing inside the church.

Eventually, he convinced the woman to unlock the doors so he could see the sanctuary.  Police say that's where he forced her into a chair, put his hands over her mouth, and committed a sex act, before running away.

"That's shocking to know that my kids were right across the street when it happened," said April Crawford.  Her children attend a day care that is literally just feet away from the church.

Morris was charged with sexual battery, kidnapping, lewd and lascivious battery on an elderly person, and lewd and lascivious molestation of an elderly person.