Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping and Rape

A Gulfport man was found guilty of kidnapping, forcible sexual intercourse, and aggravated assault by a Harrison County jury this afternoon.
Fifty-six year-old Andrew Cruse Jr. of Gulfport was sentenced to life in prison on all three counts and will serve his full sentence without the possibility of parole.
On February 23rd, 2015 a nude female was seen running into the Lowe’s parking lot with her hands bound behind her back. The victim testified that she was physically and sexually assaulted by Cruse and that the previous day she traveled to the defendant’s campsite and he struck her in the head with a hammer, fracturing her skull.
She says he then tied her up and undressed her. Her testimony states he assaulted her over the course of 24 hours.
When the defendant was asleep the victim was able to open the tent zipper with her teeth and escape.