Woman Paid Suspects to Stab Victim, Stab His Dog, and Steal His Car in Retaliation for Alleged Rape

BROOKSVILLE – Last September, R News reported the arrest of three suspects who committed an armed home invasion in Spring Hill and then fled to Pasco County in the victim's car. Today, R News discovered new shocking details that involves the arrest of a woman who may have planned the robbery.

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of September 18th, 26-year-old Marina Nicole Rhinehart brought three black males to the victim's residence, where she also resided, and proceeded to attack the victim with a knife. The male victim was severely beaten and stabbed with a knife during the attack. The victim's 8-year-old Doberman Pinscher began attacking the suspects but was also stabbed.

After stabbing the victim's dog, the suspects warned the victim "If you go to the police, we got people sitting at family members' homes" and then recited the victim's family members' names and addresses to convince him. The victim then stopped fighting back and asked what they wanted. The suspects forced the victim at knifepoint to sign over the title of his 2014 Ford Mustang. The suspects then fled the residence in the victim's vehicle.

Law Enforcement in Pasco began searching for the vehicle which was spotted traveling southbound on US-19. A pursuit began in the area of Sunset Road and US-19, which came to an end minutes later after the suspects crashed into a utility pole. All three suspects fled on foot but were captured within minutes with the assistance of K-9.

All three suspects are currently behind bars in Pasco County, but for reasons unknown, their identities have not been released by officials.

Detectives made contact with the three suspects in Pasco County who advised that they were all intoxicated, high on MDMA, and other narcotics. They also advised that the female occupant paid them to commit the robbery and stabbing in retaliation for an alleged rape that the stabbing victim committed on September 14th. The suspects claim they were paid approximately $300-$400 to do the job and an extra $250 if they killed the dog.

On December 1, 2023, detectives made contact with 26-year-old Marina Nicole Rhinehart, the alleged suspect who paid the three men to commit the crimes, and charged her with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Battery, Vehicle Theft, and Animal cruelty. She remains behind bars on an $85,000 bond.

Officials have not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

UPDATE: