ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The victim of an attempted rape in Orlando said she may never get justice. Dawn McLeod said prosecutors cost her a chance to testify against her accused attacker, and the case had to be dropped.

McLeod said she got too little notice when it was time for her to come to testify. She said she only got a phone call a few hours before trial. She didn't make it, so her case was dropped. "I wanted to stand up and face him," she said.

After a jury convicted Carlos Rhynes of three other rapes in Brevard County, he was set to go on trial again Monday for breaking into McLeod's house near Pine Hills in 1998 and attacking her. She knew facing Rhynes wouldn't be easy, but she was ready. “I did it once at his bond hearing. I was more than willing to do it again."

But this time McLeod said she never got a subpoena, just a voice message on her cell phone only a few hours before trial was set to begin. "She said the court case is taking place today and we need you to come and testify today."

By the time McLeod got that message, it was too late, and prosecutors said they were forced to drop the case against Rhynes.

McLeod said the fact that Rhynes is already serving three life sentences is no consolation. “What if the other cases, he got off from a technicality or dismissed as well? This person threatened to kill me!"

The State Attorney's office insists it did send out a subpoena. But McLeod said she's convinced someone dropped the ball. "I wanted to show other victims that they can stand up for themselves, they can come forward and they can have their day in court, at least they should anyway."

The state attorney's office would not comment on camera, but said prosecutors may still be able to re-file charges against Rhynes in this case. McLeod said she's still ready to testify.