Reward offered for missing Ocoee woman

OCOEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - CrimeLine is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information regarding the disappearance of an Ocoee woman. Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Tracy Ocasio, 27, last seen leaving an Orlando sports bar around 1 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, May 27, is encouraged to contact call 407-423-TIPS (8477).

Ocasio was last seen leaving the Florida Tap Room in MetroWest after celebrating at an Orlando Magic watch party.  Surveillance video shows her leaving the bar with a man, identified by Ocoee Police as 28-year-old James Hataway.  On Monday, Hataway was arrested on separate charges but was also named as a person of interest in the Ocasio case.

At daybreak on Tuesday morning, law enforcement officers returned to the area where a Ocasio's car was found last week, just blocks from Hataway's home.  Cadaver dogs from Orange and Osceola counties searched a wooded area near some railroad tracks, but didn't turn up any leads.

Hataway told investigators that Ocasio gave him a ride home. While no evidence was found which might link Hataway to the girl's disappearance, officers said they did find drug paraphernalia in his home, for which he was arrested.

On Tuesday, Hataway faced a judge in his first appearance on those drug charges. The judge revoked his bond due to an earlier case of criminal mischief. Court records indicate that Hataway has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1993.

Also on Tuesday, there was another turn in the Ocasio case when a Seminole County woman came forward to say that she was assaulted by James Hataway in 2008.

“It's kind of the same scenario, and it's kind of what happened to me. He asked me for a ride home,” said the woman who has asked not be identified.  "Now she's no where to be found," she said of Ocasio's disappearance.

She recognized Hataway after watching a news report on Monday night. Describing the events of almost year ago, she said that after she took the man home from a bar, he attacked her.

>Click here to see photos of Tracy Ocasio

“I leaned over to give him a hug and say goodbye, and he wouldn't let go of me. He tried breaking my neck. I slipped out of it, and he started strangling me. I got out of my car and started running down the street.”

That's when she said she slipped and fell to the ground.

“He started slamming my head down on the sidewalk. I started screaming, and then he took his hand and took both fingers and put them in my mouth and tried to snap my neck again. I'm screaming somebody please help me.” Eventually, two people came out to her rescue.

The investigation is ongoing, but detectives did tell FOX 35 that there is no solid evidence, at present time, linking Hataway to the attack on this Seminole County woman, nor is there evidence to charge him with Tracy Ocasio’s disappearance.

“If we find other women that have had similar incidents with this gentleman, it kind of helps our investigation” said Sgt. Mike Bryant with the Ocoee Police Department.  “We'll find out different things he's done and maybe we'll find Tracy.”

The Seminole County State Attorney's Office elaborated on why charges were not filed against Hataway back in August of 2008 when he was accused of attacking the Seminole County woman. The office attempted to contact the victim but never heard back from her, so the case remained open.

In a separate investigation, authorities are looking into the disappearance of an Orange County man, last seen with Hataway. Apopka Police are not calling Hataway a suspect in disappearance of Onda George, but they are not ignoring the connection between the cases of the two missing persons.  

Read more about the Onda George investigation here >>>

Officers said Tracy's wallet, keys and cellphone were missing from her car.  Sgt. Bryant said there were no signs that Tracy was inside Hataway's home. "We had cadaver dogs search this property as a precaution. Nothing at the house indicated she had been there."

Investigators said it's all a little suspicious.

"He was cooperative to the point where she came to his house and left from there. When we got a little more into the questioning, he decided not to cooperate any more," Bryant said.

"I'm innocent," Hataway said as he was escorted by Ocoee Police officers from a patrol car to the Orange County Jail Monday night. "She left," when asked where she went after they were last seen together. "I hung out with my father," he added. "We just hung out. She gave me a ride home."

"I think he knows more than he is saying," Elizabeth Ocasio said who is Tracy's mother. "They had a warrant to search the house because he was the last person seen with her," father Joe Ocasio said. "If he was not involved, then let it be. It is ironic that her car was parked only a block from where he (Hataway) lives."

According to Ocasio's parents, the 27 year old loves writing poetry and making jewelry. They said it gets harder every day without her.  "I'm still trying to hold on to hope, it's getting worse as time goes by," Joe said.

He said he was grateful for the media coverage. "There's more tips coming in after all of your attention that you gave in this case."

The Ocasios released new photos of their daughter on Wednesday. They also made an appearance on national cable television show, hoping to dig up more information on Hataway.

"Apparently he's lived out of state so we would like to get that out too. It's unfortunate my daughter ran into such an animal, and I hope it hasn't cost her her life that's what I hope."

Anyone with information about Tracy's disappearance should call the Ocoee Police Department.   

FOX 35 reporters Valerie Boey and Shannon Butler contributed to this report