ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — The trial was supposed to begin on Tuesday for Edwin Colon, who was accused of sexually assaulting a renter at an Orange County apartment complex where he worked as a maintenance man, according to court documents.
However, WFTV found out that the victim never showed up.
Investigators said 38-year-old Colon raped the woman inside the Dovetail apartments on Curry Ford Road in May.
"I was very surprised about that because he seems like a nice person, but you never know," said resident Nelly Acevedo.
Investigators said the victim said she didn't have a key to her apartment and Colon let her inside, but then raped her.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said, "That doesn't happen often, but it happens more often in sexual battery cases than other cases."
Sheaffer said victims get cold feet or don't want to face their attackers.
In this case, it could be a big break for Colon.
The trial was pushed back until Wednesday.
Authorities said if the victim doesn't show up again, the charges will likely be dropped because she is the main witness.
"Once the victim in the sexual battery case refuses to cooperate or doesn't appear at trial, the chance of conviction is zero," Sheaffer said.
Residents of the Dovetail apartment complex said they don't like the idea that the man they once trusted in won't even have to answer for the charges he's facing.
"I think he should pay something, you know," Acevedo said.
Sheaffer said if the victim does not show up on Wednesday, she could be held in contempt of court. However, Sheaffer said he has never seen that happen to a rape victim.