MURFREESBORO, TN - Luis Martinez Morado, a 44-year-old man who was wanted by Murfreesboro Police on multiple counts of child rape and aggravated sexual battery, is set to appear in a Rutherford County Circuit Courtroom on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Morado was apprehended four months ago in Tampa, Florida by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office after the U.S. Marshals Service notified law enforcement in Florida about the suspect.
The charges against Morado stem from allegations dating back to 2007, with the victim accusing him of repeated sexual assaults over a four-year period. While Morado was residing in Palmetto, Florida, located in Manatee County, the crimes he is accused of committing occurred in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
An investigation into Morado's alleged crimes began in 2022 when the Murfreesboro Police Department's Special Victims Unit initiated inquiries into the child rape accusations. After presenting their findings to a Rutherford County Grand Jury, authorities obtained a sealed indictment against Morado.
With warrants issued for his arrest, Morado was located in Ruskin, Florida, where he was found working at a local restaurant. He was taken into custody by Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office after it was further learned that he not only worked in the Ruskin community, but also attended church in Ruskin. Following his arrest by authorities in Florida, he was extradited back to Tennessee and is currently incarcerated at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where he awaits his next court proceeding.
Morado's upcoming court appearance on February 22, 2024, will see him represented by a public defender from the Public Defender's Office in Murfreesboro. The state is represented by Assistant District Attorney Sharon Reddick. The hearing marks a significant step in the legal proceedings against him, as the accusations date back 17-years in this ongoing case.
As the legal process unfolds, Morado is making preparations to confront 7 counts of “Rape of a Child” and 3 counts of “Aggravated Sexual Battery.” At this point, a date for trial has yet to be set.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
