33-Time Felon KIDNAPS, KILLS in Florida!

A Florida woman was forced to break free from her shackles and “run for her life” after a 33-time felon imprisoned her in a storage container while her elderly mother-in-law lay beaten to death in her home.

At a Glance

• David Earl Gipson was arrested for kidnapping, sexual battery, and aggravated assault after allegedly beating and imprisoning a woman in a storage container
• The victim managed to escape after being hog-tied naked with handcuffs, duct tape, and a rope around her neck
• The 74-year-old mother-in-law of the victim was found beaten to death in her home, with Gipson now facing potential murder charges
• Gipson has an extensive criminal history with approximately 33 felony charges since 1999 and eight prison sentences
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office is actively pursuing murder charges in what they described as a “horrific event”

Eight-Time Felon’s Reign of Terror

Another violent criminal with a rap sheet longer than the Constitution has been wreaking havoc in Florida while our justice system apparently thought the eighth time behind bars would be the charm. David Earl Gipson, a man with approximately 33 felony charges dating back to 1999 who has been imprisoned eight separate times, was arrested in Washington County on multiple charges including sexual battery, aggravated battery, and false imprisonment. The system that repeatedly released this predator back onto our streets now has the blood of one victim on its hands and nearly claimed a second.

“She was naked. Still handcuffed and duct-taped around her mouth. He put a rope over her neck and tucked her legs up underneath her. If you can picture what a hog tie looks like, that’s what he did to her. She stated she got very hot and thought she was going to suffocate and die.” – Sheriff Kevin Crews.

The details of this case read like a horror movie script, but this is the terrifying reality of what happens when violent offenders are given endless chances. According to law enforcement, Gipson attacked the victim at her residence, where he bound, gagged, and threatened to kill her. After sexually assaulting her and beating her with both a handgun and a blunt object, he transported her to his residence using her mother-in-law’s vehicle – a detail that would later reveal an even more sinister crime.

A Desperate Escape

In a testament to human survival instinct, the victim managed to escape Gipson’s makeshift prison through sheer determination. After being confined in a storage container, hog-tied with handcuffs behind her back, duct tape over her mouth, and a rope around her neck, she freed herself by kicking through the plywood of the container. What followed was a desperate struggle for survival that showcases the extraordinary resilience of this woman in the face of unimaginable horror.

“She got out of the shed and then ran for her life. At one point she told us that once she was away from the house, she used a tree to remove her – she’s handcuffed behind her back – she used a tree to remove the duct tape from around her mouth. At that time, she made her way to the edge of a roadway where a passerby saw her. He stopped, picked her up and immediately called 911.” – Sheriff Kevin Crews.

Let’s be clear about something: this victim shouldn’t have had to rely on her own heroism to survive. Our justice system had at least eight previous opportunities to keep this monster locked away from society. At what point do we acknowledge that some criminals have demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that they cannot function in civilized society? Instead, we now have one dead elderly woman and another victim who will carry physical and psychological scars for the rest of her life.

A Second Victim and Ongoing Investigation

In a devastating twist to this already horrific case, authorities discovered the body of 74-year-old Lettie Cooper Collins, the mother-in-law of the imprisoned victim, severely beaten in her home. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is now seeking murder charges against Gipson for Collins’ death, adding to his already extensive list of charges including burglary and arson. The investigation is ongoing, with multiple agencies working together to ensure justice is served for both victims.

“horrific event [that] has happened to this family.” – Sheriff Kevin Crews.

Sheriff Kevin Crews apologized for the incident and thanked various agencies and the community for their support in apprehending Gipson. But apologies won’t bring back Lettie Cooper Collins or erase the trauma suffered by the surviving victim. What this case demands is serious introspection about our criminal justice system. How many times must a violent offender demonstrate their inability to exist within society’s laws before we prioritize public safety over endless chances? This isn’t about being “tough on crime” – it’s about protecting innocent Americans from predators who have proven time and again they cannot be rehabilitated.