What sounds like a scene from a low-budget crime flick is now a criminal case in Miami-Dade, where a man is facing kidnapping and battery charges after deputies say he forced his girlfriend into the trunk of her own car, drove around with her inside, then hit her when she tried to escape. The arrest happened just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, according to the arrest report.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, deputies identified the suspect as 24-year-old Travis Tillman Jr. Investigators say a verbal dispute escalated when Tillman grabbed the woman, put her in the trunk of her vehicle and drove off. The report states he later parked, opened the trunk and, when she tried to get out, struck her multiple times on her face and body. Arrest paperwork notes the victim had no visible injuries and refused medical treatment.
Deputies say surveillance shows assault
Authorities obtained surveillance video that they say shows the woman climbing out of the trunk and then being hit. Deputies later stopped the vehicle at Northwest 179th Street and Northwest 68th Avenue. The arrest report quotes Tillman as saying the woman "would rather be in the trunk" and states he admitted to putting her in the trunk, driving the car and hitting her, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
How the case fits Florida law
Under Florida law, kidnapping and battery are among the offenses treated as domestic violence when the accused and victim are family or household members. That designation can trigger specific investigative steps and victim service notifications. See Florida Statutes, Chapter 741, for state requirements on domestic violence reporting and referrals to certified victim services.
Resources and next steps
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support and safety planning, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, and the Florida Department of Children and Families operates a statewide domestic violence hotline and resource directory for survivors.
