I was Assaulted
Statement of Probable Cause Filed in Lee County S***** Battery Case
On July 23, 2025, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2nd Precinct substation in Lehigh Acres, Florida, regarding a report of a past s***** battery and battery by strangulation. The report was made by a female victim concerning an incident that occurred during the late evening hours of July 22 into the early morning of July 23, 2025.
According to the initial investigation, the Victim reported that she had invited a male acquaintance, later identified as Volker Dietrich Slichter, to her residence to spend time together playing games. The two consumed alcohol and began watching a movie in the Victim’s bedroom. While initial kissing and oral contact were consensual, the Victim stated that the encounter escalated rapidly and became violent.
The Victim reported that Slichter began choking her without consent, applying pressure to her neck to the point that she could not breathe or speak. She attempted to pull his hand away but was unsuccessful. During this time, she stated that he slapped her forcefully in the face multiple times and restrained her arms while on top of her, causing pain. The Victim told him to stop and expressed discomfort, but he continued.
The Victim further stated that Slichter engaged in additional non-consensual acts, including forcefully grabbing and pinching her body, slapping her buttocks repeatedly, and digitally penetrating her a*** against her will. She reported that she repeatedly told him to stop and that he ignored her verbal protests and physical reactions to pain.
No s***** i********** occurred. The Victim stated that she asked Slichter to leave her residence, but he claimed he was too intoxicated to drive. He ultimately left around 4:00 a.m. on July 23, 2025.
Later that morning, the Victim observed numerous bruises and marks on her body, including injuries to her face, neck, shoulders, arms, stomach, and buttocks. Photographs of these injuries were taken and entered into evidence. She also reported receiving repeated phone calls, text messages, and a voicemail from Slichter after she informed him she no longer wished to communicate. According to the Victim, Slichter asked her not to report the incident, stating that it would ruin his life and referencing the fact that he was on probation.
Initially, the Victim chose not to pursue charges and completed a waiver of prosecution. However, on July 28, 2025, she provided additional information to law enforcement, including details of the non-consensual digital penetration, and expressed a desire to prosecute. A supplemental report was completed, and the case was referred to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit – Special Victims Unit.
On July 30, 2025, a detective obtained a digitally recorded sworn statement from the Victim at Sheriff’s Office headquarters. During this interview, the Victim reiterated her account of the assault and provided further clarification regarding the sequence of events and the injuries she sustained. She later sought medical treatment, and records from Gulf Coast Medical Center documented neck pain, joint swelling, and skin discoloration consistent with her reported injuries.
The Victim positively identified Slichter as the suspect through a single unmarked photograph. Investigators also collected text messages, a voicemail left by Slichter, items of clothing worn during the incident, photographs taken by Slichter, and a drinking container used that evening. All items were submitted into evidence.
Law enforcement confirmed through databases and communication with the suspect’s probation officer that Slichter was on probation as a registered s** offender stemming from a prior s***** battery conviction in Orange County in 2018.
When contacted by investigators on August 5, 2025, Slichter declined to provide a statement and requested an attorney. A letter from his attorney later asserted that the encounter was consensual and that Slichter expressed remorse if the Victim believed boundaries had been crossed.
Based on the totality of the investigation—including the Victim’s sworn statements, photographic and medical evidence, corroborating communications, and the suspect’s probation status—detectives requested that an arrest warrant be issued for Volker Dietrich Slichter on charges of S***** Battery under Florida Statute 794.011(5)(b) and Battery by Strangulation under Florida Statute 784.031(1).