Victim of alleged 2022 sexual assault in Broward mall restroom speaks out – NBC 6 South Florida

A woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted in a Broward mall restroom more than two years ago spoke out for the first time Thursday as she and her attorneys sue the mall.

The woman, who only wishes to be identified as “Jane Doe,” held a press conference with her lawyers to shed light on the May 14, 2022 incident.

“My life has never been the same. I am still traumatized by what happened. I am more hyper aware since the incident and I always look around when I go out because of the attack.” , said the woman. “I am currently seeing therapists and taking medication to control my anxiety and fear.”

Lawyers said the woman, who suffers from a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome, was at the mall to volunteer at a “Sensory Saturdays” event for autistic children when the incident alleged to have occurred.

“Jane Doe” had stopped at the food count when she was approached by the suspect, identified by police as Terrence Lewis Style, who allegedly began talking to her and asked for her phone number.

Lawyers said Style persuaded her to go into a bathroom with him, then took her down a back hallway and into a family bathroom.

Once inside the restroom, Style locked the door and joined him in a stall, blocking the door, according to an arrest report.

According to the report, he took off some of her clothes and sexually beat her, then forced her to touch him. As he washed in the sink, she ran out and warned a passerby “that there was a rapist inside” the toilet.

They attracted the attention of a mall security guard who called Plantation police. A police officer confronted Style in the parking lot and he resisted being handcuffed.

When Style was in custody, the officer found a Taurus 9mm handgun and ammunition in his backpack and a magazine in his pants pocket. He claimed he had the gun on behalf of a friend, police said.

Photos released Thursday by Jane Doe's attorneys at the Haggard Law Firm showed the bathroom sealed off with yellow police tape as well as the items allegedly found on Style, which also included knives.

The woman is now suing the mall for negligence.

“My goal is to make shopping malls safer for adults and children with autism spectrum disorders,” she said.

Broward Mall management released a statement Thursday regarding the incident.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our shoppers, employees and retailers. We are making significant investments in security, both personally and technologically, and cooperating with local law enforcement teams when necessary,” the statement said.

Style, now 43, faces charges including sexual assault, false imprisonment and carrying a concealed firearm.