The Doctor's Orders - Dr. Ecklind's Agenda

Yesterday, police arrested Jerrold Ecklind, an Ormond Beach geriatric doctor, for the false imprisonment of a woman, along with impersonating an officer and aggravated assault. (Story) What were "Dr." Jerrold Ecklind's intentions when he drove off with his prey? He certainly wasn't there to play hero, or he wouldn't have had her handcuff herself. He did have three weapons, all of them loaded. He told her that he was an undercover police officer (which he was not). He was driving to some unknown destination before he was apprehended. Where was going? What was he going to do when he got there? These are haunting questions that, in all probability, have some pretty scary answers.

The probable answer, at least according to what we have seen in similar cases in the past, is that he was planning to sexually assault her. Would he have then let her go, after her having seen his face, his vehicle, and possibly taking evidence with her her? Possibly. Ecklind was counting that the man he pointed the loaded .45 at would think he was a cop and be afraid to say anything. (He bet wrong.) He might have thought that a woman who lived the high-risk lifestyle of his chosen victim would also not choose to report his crime.

On the other hand, he might not have wanted to take such a chance. He does, after all, have so very much to lose.

Of course, he may have just been playing the hero. He might have handcuffed her for his own protection. He may have feared her getting a hold on one of the loaded guns he had stashed in his car. You have to be careful who you give a ride to these days.

I do hope police keep a close eye on this guy. I also hope that he loses his medical license. He has no business in the health-care profession.

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Here is an April 10, 2003 Press Release from the Volusia County Sheriff's Department

Is it just me, or there is there a resemblance?

SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASES COMPOSITE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SUSPECT

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released a composite sketch on Thursday of a man wanted for abducting a 26-year-old woman at gunpoint earlier this week and sexually assaulting her in a remote, wooded area near New Smyrna Beach. When the suspect took off after Monday’s attack, the victim walked about a half-mile before flagging down a New Smyrna Beach police officer.

The victim told Sheriff’s investigators that she was walking along U.S. 1 in Port Orange Monday afternoon when a newer model, white minivan with tinted windows drove by several times and the driver tried to convince the woman to get in the vehicle. When she refused, the victim said a white man in his late 30s got out of the van, pulled out a handgun and ordered her to get into the vehicle. Fearing for her life, the victim complied and the suspect got back into the van and drove southbound towards New Smyrna Beach. The victim said the man rolled up the windows and locked the doors to prevent her from escaping.

The suspect drove to a secluded area near New Smyrna Beach, sexually battered the victim and then left the woman in the woods while he drove off. The attack occurred off of a dirt road off of S.R. 44, west of I-95 not far from New Smryrna Beach’s municipal water treatment plant. The suspect was described as approximately 6' tall and weighing about 250 pounds, with black and gray, scruffy hair and no facial hair. The suspect has a small scar on his chin and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Investigator Cynthia Gambrell at (386)-423-3301 or Crime Stoppers of Volusia & Flagler Counties toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.

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There's an interesting discussion over at the Websleuths Forum about this case.

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To those concerned: I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in my observations. And to Filly - You're welcome! Thanks for the link.