National

Man posing as homebuyer sexually assaults, robs agent during showing, MS cops say

A 64-year-old man is accused of sexually assaulting a real estate agent at gunpoint at an open house in Mississippi, deputies said.
A 64-year-old man is accused of sexually assaulting a real estate agent at gunpoint at an open house in Mississippi, deputies said. Getty Images

A man accused of sexually assaulting a real estate agent before robbing her of her belongings is behind bars, Mississippi deputies told news outlets.

Jerry Glynn Dennis, 64, is charged with sexual battery, kidnapping and armed robbery in the July 1 attack in Pearl, WJTV reported, citing the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office.

The real estate agent told deputies she was preparing for an open house when a man, later identified as Dennis, came in and said he was there to see the home, according to the station.

He brandished a handgun, and the two struggled over the weapon, WAPT reported, citing deputies. The agent said she bit Dennis on the arm, and he pistol-whipped her, according to deputies.

That’s when the agent said Dennis forced her to undress at gunpoint and sexually assaulted her, WLBT reported, citing the sheriff’s office. He took her cellphone and car keys before leaving the home, deputies said.

McClatchy News reached out to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office for more information July 3 and was awaiting a response.

Deputies later arrested Dennis at a home in Rankin County, WJTV reported.

“I have to commend the victim because without her detailed information, description of evidence and everything ... our deputies were able to arrest that suspect in an hour,” Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey told WAPT.

Dennis remained in the Rankin County Jail on a $950,000 bond as of July 3, jail records show.

Pearl is a less than 10-mile drive southeast from downtown Jackson.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

Read Next
Read Next
Read Next
Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER