A Southeast Austin woman endured hours of sexual and physical assaults that spanned two cities, according to police, and a man has now been charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.

Police say Juan Lopez burst into an apartment Monday with a gun and threatened a woman and her husband -- who he knew through a previous job. Hours later, they say he came back for the woman.

The apartment sits empty now. The couple that once lived here has moved. They're afraid the man who assaulted them may come back. Even the neighbors are scared.

"Never know what's going to happen," said a neighbor who asked KVUE not to reveal her name. "The girl was just screaming so loud and I heard the window breaking."

After threatening the couple with a gun Monday night, police say Lopez returned early Tuesday morning. He busted out a window and kidnapped the woman inside. Police say he pulled her out by the hair and repeatedly hit her before forcing her into his car.

"The guy was so mad. He was screaming to the lady. I was so scared," said the neighbor.

APD

Juan Lopez

The violence continued as Lopez drove her to Round Rock, still physically and now sexually assaulting her. Police say he eventually brought her back to his Southeast Austin apartment where he raped her. She says at one point he threatened to kill her.

Then, three hours into the assault, Lopez fell asleep. Police say what the woman did next may have saved her life.

"Victims of something like this, you freeze up. You really don't know what to do, but she was brave enough to think and grab the keys and get out of there," Officer Veneza Aguinaga said.

The woman drove to her apartment where police were waiting. Lopez was arrested soon after.

Lopez is in jail on a $200,000 bond.