Vero Beach man convicted to 15 years in prison for 2008 Ormond Beach rape

Ormond Beach Observer
News

After more than a decade, a Vero Beach man who raped a visitor in Ormond Beach was convicted and sent to prison, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported on Friday, Dec. 6.

Adam Gregory Shuman, 42, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and designated as a sexual predator for a September 2008 rape. Shuman — who was 31 at the time —stalked, cornered and raped a 47-year-old woman in the dunes next to a beach ramp near the 300 block of South Atlantic Avenue, VCSO said in a press release. The survivor, who fought back but couldn't fend off Shuman (who is listed at 6'3 and 226 pounds) later met with investigators and was able to describe the attack, her attacker and his vehicle in detail. Despite DNA swabs and investigative efforts by law enforcement, the case ran cold in November 2008.

Adam Gregory Shuman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a woman in Ormond Beach in 2008.

The case was reopened when in 2015, VCSO sent DNA for forensic analysis to try and clear all backlogged sexual assault evidence kits, according to a press release. This was made possible by funding from the state Attorney General's Office. Shuman was identified as a DNA match for the rape in October 2017 and arrested in Jan. 30, 2018, though he was out on a $50,000 bond later that afternoon from the Indian River County Jail.

Shuman is also registered sex offender from 1998.

“There’s one less sexual predator in our midst thanks to DNA and all the hard work that went into this case,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood after the verdict Friday in a press release. “Our detectives and prosecutors made sure this rapist got locked up where he belongs. But most of all we need to applaud the survivor whose bravery made it possible to put him away.”

The survivor testified at the trial, held this week.

“DNA matches, such as the one in this case, have revolutionized the way we prosecute sex crimes,” said State Attorney R.J. Larizza in the press release. “No longer must victims be lone witnesses to rape — as they so typically are. Because of a commitment by law enforcement and the courageous victim, a sexual predator is now behind bars where he belongs.”