An Uber driver near West Palm Beach is behind bars today after allegedly raping a female passenger he picked up from SunFest music festival Sunday morning.
Authorities say 57-year-old Gary Kitchings was arrested Monday on multiple charges including kidnapping and sexual battery.
Kitchings picked up three women at the SunFest music festival around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report. After dropping off two of the passengers, the victim told police Kitchings flirted with her and tried to put his hand up her shirt.
After she tried to escape, Kitchings allegedly told the victim he would kill her if she did not to what he said. He then allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him inside the car before raping her inside her Jupiter house. She was able to take a picture of his license plate before calling police.
Court records show Kitchings listed his home address as Kid Sanctuary Campus, a non-profit group providing safe homes for abused, abandoned and neglected children in the state where he reportedly served as a “house parent”.
Uber issued a statement saying the rider’s report was “disturbing” and that Kitchings has been removed from the service.