By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
A woman who was working alone in a shop at High Point Town Center Friday in Prattville was simply getting ready to close the business for the day when a nightmare arrived.
Her alleged attacker, Isaac Mathis, 29, of Florida has been arrested on multiple felony counts by Prattville investigators. He had been released Aug.1 from a Florida facility. How he made his way to our area is still yet to be determined.
What officials say is that Mathis entered the business right before closing time and forced the lone employee into a back room. There he allegedly sexually assaulted her, beat her, threatened her life, and choked her into unconsciousness multiple times. She was doused with a chemical agent from the store as it was poured into her eyes, scalp and mouth. She was also covered in some type of detergent.
Officials claim that Mathis then stole money from the store and fled on foot. The call to 911 for help for the woman came around 6:07 p.m.
The woman was able to run from the store to another nearby store where 911 was immediately called. She was taken to an area hospital for treatment for her multiple injuries.
This afternoon she was in the courtroom, surrounded by over 25 friends and family members to offer their support for her during the hearing. The reason for the hearing was to see if Mathis would be allowed a bond amount, and potentially be released if he could make bond.
However, before proceedings could begin, Mathis’ defense attorney Brandon Stone made a request to waive Mathis’ appearance in court and allow the proceedings to continue without his presence.
District Judge Ben Baxley initially agreed, but reconsidered when Mathis could not give an address of where he lived or answer other questions. He also learned of Mathis’ extensive criminal history.
The prosecution team of District Attorney CJ Robinson and Chief Assistant District Attorney Mandy Johnson objected to the waiver. Johnson said that she understands Mathis didn’t want to be in the courtroom, but the victim in the crime was sitting in court on the front row. “I am quite sure she didn’t want to be here today either,” Johnson told Judge Baxley.
Baxley ordered Mathis to be brought into the courtroom.
Matthis said he could not give an address, as he had been staying with his sister in Florida.
Judge Baxley explained to Mathis his rights during what was also his initial appearance in court since his arrest. Matthis told the judge he understood his rights.
Mathis was clad in an orange Elmore County Jail jumpsuit and handcuffed as he stood before the judge. The alleged crimes occurred in the city limits of Prattville, but within Elmore County.
A Prattville Police investigator took the stand and explained the current charges against Matthis as rape, robbery, arson and attempted murder. He said that he was assigned to this incident on Friday, Aug. 9, and he responded to what was reported as a trauma with injury incident.
The woman was able to give a description of her attacker and tell officers and investigators what had occurred.
The detective testified that Matthis allegedly entered the store and asked for a price check on an item. He then pushed something into the back of the employee forcing her into a back room. He reportedly told her not to yell or scream or he would shoot her.
She was then sexually assaulted, beaten and choked multiple time. After he allegedly strangled her, he kicked her, and smashed items into her face. He then poured the chemical agent over the upper half of her body.
Before the suspect left, he allegedly tried to start a fire in the store, which was unsuccessful.
As officers began to talk to the victim, other officers descended on the area, some using drones to get aerial views. A person matching the description was located, later identified as Mathis. Testimony showed that Mathis had used a phone to call 911 to let authorities know he was giving up just as officers took him down.
The detective testified that a video of the attack is now in evidence from the business, and it clearly shows what happened in business.
The mystery remains, and that is how Mathis made his way from Florida to our area. Through their investigation, officials say he was not an employee of any business nearby. It is unclear how long he had been in this area, and at one point he told authorities he thought he was still in Florida.
Then Judge Baxley learned of Mathis’ extensive criminal record in Florida, to include juvenile offenses.
DA Robinson said that documented crimes in juvenile court data area from 2008-11.
In October 2011 Mathis was convicted as an adult of strong-armed robbery, obstruction of government operations, and burglary. He was then convicted of grand theft auto.
In October of 2012 he was convicted of Grand Theft 1st and Robbery 1st.
In June of 2017 he was convicted of Grand Theft.
In January 2019 he was convicted of carjacking with a firearm and saw numerous probation revocations.
In 2023 he was arrested for Aggravated Assault and felony possession of a firearm. He spent 252 days in jail beginning in November of 2023 until the charges were dismissed and he was released Aug. 1 of this year. Just eight days later he was back in custody for his alleged offenses in Prattville.
As the detective continued his testimony, he said that when officers tried to question Matthis after his arrest he said multiple times, “They made me do it.” However, there was no evidence presented that anyone else was involved in the attack.
Brandon Stone then asked the detective if he would agree that Mathis had some type of mental disorder. The detective said he was not qualified to make that determination. The prosecution objected and it was sustained by Baxley.
Robinson told Judge Baxley that this incident has all of the spirit of why Aniah’s Law was created, and Mathis is a threat to public safety. He said Mathis has no employment, family or ties to Autauga or Elmore County. He then asked for no bond for Mathis, saying he hopes that Mathis will at some point receive 400 years for his crimes. He said he would fight to his last breath to see him convicted.
“He has no community ties. He couldn’t even give an address of where he lives. He has an extensive criminal history in Florida. There is up to eight different times that he has been arrested or prosecuted. I can’t really tell you why, I have no control over what happened. Previously, it looks like people played paddy cake at the beach with him in Florida. That is not how we do things here. So, our goal I that he never breathes air again outside of a prison facility,” DA Robinson said after court while speaking to the media.
He added that Mathis saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. He found his victim alone in a store, that was just getting ready to close for the day.
“He saw an opportunity. He acted on it. He got some cash. He raped somebody that he had a chance to overpower. He had a gun, used force. You think, ‘How did somebody do this?’ The longer I do this job, the angrier I get. When we have a situation that there is just an innocent person, going about their day, doing whatever they are supposed to be doing. And we have somebody that wants to prey upon that.”
In speaking of the brave woman that was assaulted, who sat on the front row of court today, Robinson had a lot to say.
“If she had pulled a gun and killed him…that is a justified use of force.”
He continued, “So many victims go through this process, and I feel like they walk the road alone. We have victim service officers to help them, but they are not there all the time. This woman today was surrounded by over 25 people that care about her and are there to support her. I think that will carry her further than anything. We sat around this room and had prayer before she left. I feel good about the structure around her because it will be a long process. A hard process. But I can tell from the very few minutes I spent with her. She will be a survivor, not a victim.”
To see Robinson’s full interview and comments after court today, visit https://www.facebook.com/editorsarah/videos/26829563699975492
Judge Baxley agreed that Mathis can be held without bond on three of the charges, including rape, robbery and arson. However, on the attempted murder charge, he set a cash bond of $1,000,000.
The case will now proceed to a preliminary hearing and, eventually with evidence being presented to an Elmore County grand jury.
