A 57-year-old Flint man, identified as Derek Cordell Garner Sr., has been found guilty on multiple felony charges following a violent 2020 assault on a woman who was a family friend and house guest at the time of the incident. The Genesee County jury convicted Garner of six charges including assault by strangulation and with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, domestic violence, third offense, assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct involving penetration, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, interference with an electronic communications device, and kidnapping, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
According to testimony during the trial, the attack perpetrated by Garner spanned over a period of eight hours on May 2, 2020. During the assault, the victim attempted to flee but was chased, dragged back into the residence, and subjected to three instances of sexual assault. WNEM detailed how the victim eventually found an escape by jumping from a first-floor window, leading to her screaming for help as she ran through the neighborhood, with Garner in pursuit.
The alarming disturbance caught the attention of nearby residents, one of whom promptly called 911 to report the situation. When Flint police officers arrived, they encountered a group gathered on the sidewalk, where they found the victim, who identified Garner as her assailant. She exhibited significant signs of physical trauma, including swelling, bruising on her face, and blood on her body. Prosecutor David Leyton lauded the survivor’s courage, stating "Her bravery in cooperating with the police and my office allowed us to seek justice in a courtroom and to hold the defendant accountable for his deplorable actions," as per MLive.
Garner, whose sentencing is scheduled for February 28, faces a potential sentence of life in prison. At the time of the incident, the victim had been staying with Garner temporarily while in town for a custody matter, initially considering him a family friend. The case is being resolved without the survivor, who passed away before the trial. Her prior testimony, which was crucial to the proceedings, was read into evidence during the circuit court trial, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton's office.
