The Florida man who was accused of impersonating an Uber driver and attempting to rape a woman has been found not guilty after a trial in Tampa. He was acquitted on all charges by a jury on Wednesday.
The young woman, who claims she was nearly raped by defendant Gary Pyrus, broke into tears in court on Wednesday after Pyrus was found not guilty.
“I don’t need a moment, I’m okay,” she said as she wiped away tears.
According to the woman, she was out drinking with friends at the Patio bar in Tampa on July 4, 2020, when she ordered an Uber ride on her phone app at 2 a.m.
She claims a driver called out her name outside the bar, and she got into the front seat of his car, believing it was an Uber ride. She says Gary Pyrus took her to an empty parking lot and tried to rape her.
“He was tearing off my clothes,” stated the woman.
However, during cross-examination, the defense revealed there is no record of her ever requesting an Uber ride. When questioned about it, the woman says she doesn’t remember if she ever provided her Uber account details to investigators.
“I’m not hiding my Uber account by any means,” she said.
The defense told the jury that the woman’s story did not add up. In fact, the defense says she couldn’t remember key details leading up to the assault, including how she got from the front seat to the back seat of the vehicle.
“I’d say from going outside and getting dragged to the back seat or the center console. It all happened so fast and violently,” she responded.
The jury was shown evidence photos of bruising to her arms and neck.
Trying to poke even more holes in the woman’s story, defense attorney Brett Metcalf says surveillance footage contradicts a claim of her running after the attack. According to Metcalf, the video shows the woman walking and then returning to the car.
“Stops, turns and walks right back to him. You see, she didn’t just get into Gary Pyrus’ car voluntarily once outside the Patio, she did it twice,” argued Metcalf.
Pyrus was charged with kidnapping, sexual battery and battery, but was acquitted by a jury on all charges on Wednesday.
