A Longwood man has been arrested, accused of premeditated attempted murder, attempted sexual assault on a minor and several counts of child pornography.
Shawn Ryan Thomas, 29, of Lormann Circle in Longwood was taken into custody and booked into the Seminole County Jail on Thursday.
After receiving a tip from a confidential informant, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement began their investigation into Thomas, who they said, was planning to lure parents and a juvenile female into a vacant house in Longwood under the guise of producing a film or TV show. He planned to kill the parents with a knife and rape and murder the female child. Thomas was also planning to film the rape and produce a DVD to sell, FDLE also said.
On Saturday, June 7, Thomas lured a father, grandfather and child to a vacant house in Longwood by saying he was a student making a film. The family became suspicious and left. Agents believe Thomas was going to try his plan again this weekend.
Thomas was arrested in Longwood on Thursday night. At the time of arrest, he had a bag containing a knife, sexual lubricant, a camera and tripod, and plastic sheets.
Thomas faces premeditated murder and attempted sexual assault of a victim under 12, along with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
