HENRY COUNTY, Ind. — A Knightstown man has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly strangling and sexually assaulting a woman in the supply closet of a Henry County gas station.
Lloyd E. Hood, 59, was charged last month on charges of felony strangulation and sexual battery. He has since been booked into the Henry County Jail on a $10,000 surety bond plus $700 cash.
Court documents filed against Hood show that in early November a woman contacted Knightstown police to report a sexual assault. The woman said that a man she knew as Lloyd Hood had cornered her in the supply closet of a local gas station and assaulted her.
The woman said that while working on Nov. 2, Hood came up behind her, trapped her inside the supply closet and began groping her. She said that he appeared to be drunk and that she could smell a heavy alcohol odor on him.
Hood allegedly began to wrap both of his hands around the woman's neck and also forcibly touched her genitals. The woman said she tried to escape and said "NO" at least five times.
When police brought Hood in for an interview, he reportedly told detectives that he frequents the gas station where the assault occurred. However, he denied having ever gone in the supply closet or touched the victim.
Investigators were able to access surveillance video from the gas station, which reportedly showed Hood and the victim walking out of the supply closet at the same time just after when the reported assault occurred. Furthermore, the video showed Hood "lingering around the property on his bicycle" as if he were waiting for the victim.
During a second interview, Hood reportedly admitted that he had in fact been inside the supply closet before. He also agreed with police that his change in story "made it look really bad on him."
After gathering evidence, police filed a request to charge Hood with both strangulation and battery. He has since been officially charged and booked into prison.
Online court records show that an initial hearing in Hood's case was held on Nov. 22 in Henry Circuit Court 2. A jury trial is now scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 17, 2025.