A Groveland woman was arrested for filing a false report that she was abducted and sexually assaulted in March, Lake County deputies said.
On March 30, Amelia De-La-Cruz reported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that she was abducted from the Los Compadres Meat Market at 712 East Myers Boulevard in Mascotte. De-La-Cruz told investigators that her ex-boyfriend took her against her will from that location, carried her to a wooded area off of the Van Fleet Trail in Groveland where he sexually assaulted her.
Detectives were able to review surveillance video from the location where the incident allegedly occurred and found that no such scene was captured on the video.
Crime scene investigators responded for processing of evidence and De-La-Cruz was examined at South Lake Hospital.
De-La-Cruz, 48, admitted lying to detectives when confronted. She told detectives she lied about the incident because her ex-boyfriend, whom she has children with, was preparing to leave town and she was afraid he would take her children with him.
De-La-Cruz was arrested for filing a false report to law enforcement and making false official statements. She was booked into the Lake County Jail on Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office spent approximately 56 man hours and other investigative resources on the investigation into De-La-Cruz’s false claim.
