Lawsuit alleges employees, security guard at Rodeway Inn did nothing while elderly woman was sexually assaulted

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ An investigation is ongoing after a woman was attacked, dragged, and raped at a Miami-Dade County motel.

The attack on the 67-year-old woman was horrific, and it all happened in a hallway at the Roadway Inn in Northwest Miami-Dade.

Local 10 News obtained surveillance video from the scene, showing the woman first being yanked by her hair.

Attorney Justin Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against the owners of the hotel.

ā€œYou saw our client was beaten sexually assaulted in the hallways of this hotel,ā€ Shapiro said. ā€œWhatā€™s most shocking about this is that the hotel representatives knew what was happening they were there. Sheā€™s screaming for her life, and they froze.ā€

This viscous attack happened Saturday, July 10. The victim was at the hotel on vacation with her husband.

ā€œThe victim had no choice but to perform oral sex. Itā€™s on video and there are no words,ā€ said Shapiro. ā€œOne of the most savage attacks I have ever seen.ā€

Authorities arrested Travon Smith for the attack.

Mugshot for Travon Smith. (Miami-Dade County Corrections)

According to police, the victimā€™s husband opened his hotel room door and was greeted with a punch from Smith, who then, ā€œbit him on the back of his neck with his teeth,ā€ according to an arrest report.

The lawsuit reads the victim was ā€œscreaming for help but neither the hotel representatives nor the security guard took any action whatsoever... as they watched this attack unfold less than five feet away.ā€

The female victim suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack.

ā€œHer face was bitten, her head was slammed into the floor,ā€ Shapiro said. ā€œShe is an absolute mess, as you can imagine.ā€

A GoFundMe page was created to help the victims with the mounting hospital bills. To visit the page, click here.


About the Author:

Reporter Rosh Lowe has been covering news for nearly two decades in South Florida. He joined Local 10 in 2021.