Crenshaw County deputies, in cooperation with Dale and Coffee counties, are searching for a man in connection with a rape and attempted murder of a Dale County woman.

&uot;We received a call on Monday night from Coffee County, alerting us that a white female had been abducted, raped and shot in Crenshaw County,&uot; said Chief Deputy Ronnie Davis. &uot;The victim was reportedly at a hospital in Elba, where her condition was considered stable.&uot;

&uot;A 27-year-old white female was abducted from her home in Level Plains in Dale County, at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday,&uot; said Crenshaw County Chief Investigator Ronnie White. &uot;She was taken at gunpoint with a large caliber handgun by Richard Marion Carlile, 29, whose last known residence was Morgan Mill Road, Brantley.&uot;

White said that Carlile drove a 1989 Ford F-150 pickup truck, bearing an Alabama license plate, 24A292B.

&uot;He (Carlile) drove the victim to a mobile home on Parker Creek Road in Crenshaw County,&uot; White said. &uot;It was at this location that he reportedly raped the victim, and sodomized her twice. It must be stressed that at all times, Carlile had her held at gunpoint - that is why we are considering him extremely armed and dangerous.

&uot;Carlile then made her get dressed, and took the victim back to the truck, leaving the location. While traveling, the victim attempted to escape from the suspect by jumping from the truck,&uot; White said. &uot;He chased her, beating her about the head several times with his pistol until she was rendered nearly unconscious. He then threw her back into the truck, putting her on the floorboard.

&uot;Although she doesn't know where they were going because she was on the floor of the truck, when they stopped again, she was dragged from the truck,&uot; White said. &uot;Carlile threw her on the ground, and began firing the handgun at her several times, hitting her once in the head. But he then put her back in the truck, throwing her again on the floor.&uot;

Eventually the vehicle came to a stop in Coffee County.

&uot;It was in Coffee County where Carlile put the victim out of the truck,&uot; White said. &uot;She went to a house and asked the residents to call 9-1-1.&uot;

White said that, so far, four warrants have been signed against Carlile.

&uot;We have warrants in-hand for one count of assault, first degree, one count of rape, first degree and two counts of sodomy,&uot; he said. &uot;There may be more charges yet to follow. We know he is armed and dangerous, and don't want anyone to approach him, but we do want anyone who might see him to call us, or their local law enforcement agency.&uot;

The Crenshaw County Sheriff's Department can be reached 24-hours a day by calling 334-335-6568.