Tourist was drugged and raped by a fake Uber driver in Miami: a Hispanic man arrested
The man allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted the victim after offering her a supposed ride in January 2024
A rideshare driver identified as Rafael Martinez, 42, was arrested in Miami-Dade, Florida, accused of sexual assault against a physically defenseless victim, after allegedly drugging and raping a tourist in Miami Beach on January 25, 2024.
According to the report According to police, the victim, who was visiting the city with a friend, lost consciousness after drinking from an open bottle of water that Martinez offered her inside his vehicle.
From a bar to horror
The woman had spent the night at the Faena Hotel, where she had a drink before saying goodbye to her friend, who returned to their accommodations.
Minutes later, as she left the bar to order an Uber, Martinez approached her and asked if she needed a ride. When she accepted, the man asked her to get in his car and said he would log the trip on the app later.
Inside the vehicle, the victim asked for water and the driver handed her an open bottle of vitamin water. Shortly after, she began to feel “sick and dizzy” before passing out.
Hours later, the woman woke up on a couch inside an unfamiliar apartment, with Martinez standing in front of her offering her tequila. She couldn't hold the glass, so he held her hand for her to drink.
The next image she remembered was being naked in bed. She dressed, left the apartment, and called an Uber to her apartment, where she reported the incident to the police.
Investigators tracked the victim to the Park Place by the Bay complex in northwest Miami, where Martinez lives.
DNA evidence confirmed the assault
The building's security chief reported seeing the woman disoriented and clearly intoxicated. Security footage showed Martinez escorting the victim into the elevator and going down to her floor.
A toxicology analysis revealed the presence of ethanol, acetone, and a THC metabolite in the victim's body. A rape kit later obtained DNA, which matched the suspect's.
During the hearing, Judge Mindy Glazer ordered Martinez to remain in custody without bail, confirming a genetic match between the defendant and the collected samples.
An Uber spokesperson said the driver was not active on the app at the time of the incident but has since been removed from the platform.
“The safety of everyone who uses Uber is our top priority, and we stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation,” the company said.