Rape Suspect Arrested at Grace Marketplace

On August 11, Rodney Lee Gillis, 43, was arrested at Grace Marketplace and charged with sexual battery after he raped a woman in a tent near the homeless shelter. 

The victim had moved to the shelter to live with her aunt about five days prior.  The victim was followed by Gillis into her tent, and he reportedly committed sexual battery and rape against her. 

Gillis’ arrest report says he was arrested at Grace Marketplace, registers his address to Grace Marketplace, and reports the incident occurred at the address of Grace Marketplace.

Executive Director at Grace Marketplace Jon DeCarmine told the Alachua Chronicle that Gillis wasn’t a resident at Grace and hadn’t received homeless outreach services from any organization since 2021. He said that many non-residents use Grace Marketplace as their registered address to receive mail. 

About two days after the rape, the victim told police. She gave an accurate description of Gillis and was able to positively identify him in a photo-lineup. 

The arrest report describes the tent as being on Grace Marketplace property. Director DeCarmine told the Alachua Chronicle that the rape didn’t happen at Grace Marketplace but did happen “in the woods between Grace and Tacahale, an area maintained by the City [of Gainesville], [that is] separate from Grace Services." DeCarmine said anytime police reference something happening in a tent at Grace, it wasn’t on Grace property because they don’t have areas for camping. 

Gillis told police in an interview that he arrived at Grace the same day he committed the crime.

During Gillis’ police interview he claimed he didn’t rape the victim and that they had consensual sex. He also claimed the victim’s aunt was outside the tent the entire time. 

The State Attorney’s Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention on Gillis.