ATLANTA, Ga. — A Fulton County jury has delivered a guilty verdict to a 40-year-old man, Curtis Patrick, on multiple charges including rape and kidnapping following a harrowing 2022 incident. Patrick now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole, supplemented by an additional 21 years, effectively ensuring he will spend his lifetime behind bars.
The conviction stems from an October 2022 case where a woman was found in a state of distress, seeking help while unclothed in an Atlanta neighborhood. The ordeal began when she was abducted and sexually assaulted by Patrick, who subsequently fled in her vehicle.
Detailing the events of that fateful night, the victim reported that she was leaving an event when Patrick, a stranger to her, entered her car and feigned possession of a firearm to control her actions. He forced her to drive away from the scene, later seizing her car keys and cellphone. When the victim attempted to resist, she was met with physical violence including being struck on the lip, along with threats to her life.
According to officials from the District Attorney’s office, Patrick drove the woman to a secluded recycling center where he raped her after claiming to be armed with two pistols. Throughout the traumatic experience, the victim attempted to defend herself, at one point using a pole to fight back.
Patrick’s violent spree ended when he ordered the victim out of her vehicle and sped off, causing her to be dragged along the road briefly and sustaining multiple injuries. She lost consciousness for a time after being thrown from the vehicle during a sharp turn but eventually regained her senses and sought help by knocking on nearby doors.
The victim was hospitalized for severe abrasions and lacerations covering her body and spent seven days in the intensive care unit of Grady Hospital’s burn unit due to friction burns.
The breakthrough in the case came when Patrick’s sister identified him and his vehicle from a surveillance video aired on a news broadcast. Her tip led to Patrick’s arrest. Subsequent DNA evidence conclusively matched him to the crime scene.
District Attorney Fani T. Willis commented on the resolution of the case, praising the victim’s courage throughout the ordeal. “This was a chilling crime involving a violent sexual assault,” Willis stated. “The victim’s brave response played a critical role in securing this conviction. It brings some relief to know that the assailant will no longer pose a threat to the public.”
The case highlights not only the severity of the attack but also the broader implications of such violent acts on community safety and legal justice. Patrick’s sentencing serves as a stern reminder of the legal repercussions awaiting those who engage in such brutal criminal behavior.