WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — Five people have come forward, writing letters that claim a Winter Springs rape suspect is innocent.
Channel 9 obtained their letters to the judge and a video interview with the defendant after his November arrest.
Benjamin Worthy has been proclaiming his innocence from day one in the alleged rape of an 11-year-old autistic girl.
Winter Springs police recorded an interview with Worthy around Thanksgiving shortly before he was charged with raping the girl in his truck, then buying her candy at a nearby Dollar General.
"I don't know what happened with this little girl, but that is not me," he said in the interview.
"I want facts and if someone needs to be in trouble, I want the right person to be in trouble," the detective said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement combed the 43-year-old's truck and did not find incriminating DNA.
After that, five people who know Worthy and the girl wrote letters to the judge, claiming the girl "made the whole story up to get out of trouble with her mom."
"I don't know what is going on, but I want to know. And if I can help in any kind of way I will," Worthy told authorities.
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Prosecutors are moving forward with the case, saying the girl identified Worthy, and a rape kit shows she was choked and sexually assaulted.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the letters and lack of DNA might not be enough to kill the case.
"Unless this child says this rape didn't happen, these prosecutors are going to take their evidence to the jury and the let the jury decide on the defendant's guilt," Sheaffer said.
Worthy is being held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 26.