Man accused of kidnapping woman from casino, raping and robbing her

BATON ROUGE - Police say they’ve arrested a man accused of robbing, kidnapping and raping a woman after he picked her up at an area casino while she was intoxicated.

42-year-old John Mack, of Baton Rouge, was booked on charges of simple robbery, second degree kidnapping, simple battery, unauthorized use of an access card and first degree rape after police arrested him.

Authorities said the 36-year-old victim was gambling at Hollywood Casino on March 26 at around 10 p.m. She told police that she became very drunk and was trying to steady herself against a wall when she was approached by two men, one of whom would later be revealed as Mack. The victim said Mack held out his arm and offered to escort her out of the casino.

Mack then led the woman to an ATM inside the casino. The woman made an attempt to withdraw cash but was unsuccessful. She said Mack then took her bank card from her and tried to withdraw cash again unsuccessfully.

Mack then offered to give her a ride home, which the woman accepted. He escorted the victim out of the front of the casino where he told her to wait while he and a second man went to retrieve their car. He helped her into a 4-door sedan and they left the casino parking lot just before 4 a.m.

As they drove, the victim said she realized they had made a wrong turn, at which point it became clear that Mack wasn’t taking her to the intended destination. Police said Mack told the victim she had to perform oral sex on him. When she refused, he proceeded to strangle her, saying he would kill her if she didn’t do as he said. Investigators said Mack then raped the woman.

After, the accomplice told him that he had better kill the victim or she would tell on him. The second suspect was driving the car as he and Mack discussed whether or not to kill the woman. The men then forced the victim to give a recorded video statement that she had “been ok with what had been done,” according to investigators.

The men eventually dropped the victim off in the 6900 block of Plank Road just a few minutes after the rape occurred. Before pushing her out of the vehicle, Mack took $400 and a bank card from the victim. The bank card would later be fraudulently used at several stores in the North Baton Rouge area beginning the next afternoon.

Detectives were able to identify Mack via his player’s card registration. The victim submitted to a sexual assault exam at Women’s Hospital where medical staff found evidence she had been raped. She also had a busted lip, a black eye and bruising on her throat area. Video evidence at Hollywood Casino showed the victim appeared to be highly intoxicated when she was approached by Mack and his accomplice.