ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- A 39-year-old St. Johns County man was recently arrested on charges of aggravated battery, kidnapping and grand theft in connection with the July beating of a Flagler County woman.

St. Johns County deputies announced on Thursday the arrest of Sean Holley.

According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, an investigation began early July 29, after passersby heard a woman screaming for help from the inside of her trunk in West St. Augustine.

Investigators said the witnesses pried open the trunk, got the victim out and called the sheriff's office.

At the time, the victim told deputies that she was driving around when she got lost and stopped to ask a man for directions. The victim was then allegedly beaten, sexually assaulted and choked. She was then thrown into the trunk and driven around for several hours before her attacker parked the car and fled, leaving her locked in the trunk.

"(She) took a pretty good physical assault, and we also learned from her that she was also sexually assaulted," said Sgt. Chuck Mulligan.

During the investigation, detectives identified Holley as a possible suspect who had been seen in the victim’s vehicle.

Holley was brought in for questioning and told detectives that he was in the car, however, he was only paid to drive it, according to the sheriff's office. Investigators said Holley implicated another subject. However, when that proved false, they said he changed his story and admitted to the attack.

Holley remains in the St. Johns County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. Additional charges are pending further investigation.