Man accused of raping, beating homeless woman while holding her hostage in Miami-Dade

Deputies arrested Diosvanni Barrero after a homeless woman accused him of being armed with a knife when he raped and beat her while holding her hostage for days in Miami-Dade County. (M-DCCR, Google Street View)

DORAL, Fla. – Deputies arrested a 50-year-old man after an injured homeless woman accused him of raping and hurting her while holding her hostage for days in Miami-Dade County.

Deputies believe Diosvanni Barrero was armed with a knife when he first attacked the woman on Friday night under a canal bridge. She reported he used the knife to cut off her clothes.

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“I want to kill you,” Barrero told the victim, according to a police report.

The woman reported that he punched her while holding her hostage under threat on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and part of Tuesday, according to the police report.

The woman, who had visible injuries, said she fled after he allowed her to go to the hospital and ran to a nearby Metro Bus Station where she told a deputy what happened, records show.

Deputies detained Barrero and took him to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Special Victims Bureau in Doral where they questioned him and he “admitted” to some of what the victim said, according to the police arrest report.

Records show deputies arrested him at 1 a.m., on Wednesday, and Miami-Dade correctional deputies booked him nearly two hours later at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

On Wednesday afternoon, Barrero was facing charges of armed sexual battery, false imprisonment, and battery. A judge denied him bond and ordered him to stay away from the victim.

Court records show Barrero is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday morning. Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Ariel Rodriguez is set to preside over the case.


About the Author
Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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