'Hit her with the hammer:' 115 years in prison for man convicted in brutal Elkhorn sexual assault

Terrence Leflore



ELKHORN -- A Mississippi man convicted in connection with a sexual assault that happened in Elkhorn in August 2018, leaving the 21-year-old female victim so badly hurt she couldn't communicate with police, was sentenced to 115 years in prison Monday, Feb. 24. When charges were filed in September 2018, prosecutors said it wasn't clear whether the victim would survive.

Terrence Leflore, 25, of Jackson, Mississippi in December 2019 pleaded guilty to three felonies -- attempted first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, repeater, first-degree sexual assault/great bodily harm, and armed robbery.

Leflore was sentenced to serve 51 years in prison and 20 years' extended supervision on the attempted homicide charge, 46 years in prison and 20 years' extended supervision on the sexual assault charge, and 18 years and six months in prison, and seven years and six months' extended supervision on the robbery charge -- to be served consecutively, so in addition to the 115 years in prison, Leflore was ordered to serve a total of 47 years and six months' extended supervision.

Leflore initially faced six felonies and a misdemeanor.

According to a criminal complaint, police responded to a parking lot on Lincoln Street near Walworth in Elkhorn shortly before 10:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2018 following a report of an unresponsive female -- and a male running away from the scene.

Police were directed to a vehicle in the parking lot, where they found the badly injured 21-year-old victim. The complaint said her face was "covered in blood" and she had lacerations above her eye and on her lip. She was unresponsive, and her face was badly swollen. She was taken to multiple hospitals for emergency medical treatment and treatment for trauma. At the hospital, it was determined the victim suffered a skull fracture and brain swelling and she had to be taken into surgery. A large portion of her skull had to be removed during surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.

The complaint said a hammer was recovered at the scene.

Terrence Leflore



On Sept. 3, 2018, police were finally able to speak with the victim, who advised that she finished work around 9 p.m. on Aug. 28 and walked to her vehicle. At that point, she said she observed a male, black, sitting on the sidewalk. She said he said, "Hi" to her, and she said she continued walking to her car. When he said, "Hi" again, she said she began running to her car. She said she eventually got into her car, and the next thing she remembered was waking up in the hospital.

It was determined Leflore was working for the carnival rides at the Walworth County Fair. The complaint said he, at first, denied being in the area where the attack happened, but he eventually admitted to committing the attack.

The complaint noted that Leflore was arrested for burglary in Mississippi on June 11, 2015, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to prison.