Life sentence for man who raped, stabbed Gwinnett teen after meeting on SnapChat

LAWRENCEVILLE – A Flowery Branch man was sentenced to life in prison on May 24 for raping a 15-year-old Gwinnett County girl and stabbing her 86 times.

Zachary Iona, 22, pled guilty in Gwinnett County Superior Court to charges of rape, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, statutory rape, child molestation and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.  Iona was given a life sentence, followed by five years of parole and mandatory sex offender registration as part of his negotiated plea.

“This should be a warning to our young people to beware,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin Gatson. “As this case demonstrates, not everyone you meet on social media has your best interest at heart.”

The teen met Iona on SnapChat. In Feb. 2022, the teen agreed to allow Iona to visit her at a home in Hoschton. Iona arrived with rolls of duct tape, rope and a knife. He bound the teen’s hands and covered her mouth with tape and then raped her, the Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office stated. During the sexual assault, Iona began stabbing the teen in her face, torso, neck, legs and arms. He then fled.

The teen managed to crawl to her phone and call for help. She was rushed to the hospital, where

doctors found at least 86 stab and cut wounds on her body.

Police were able to identify the defendant from a photo on the teen’s SnapChat. Police searched Iona’s car and found duct tape and rope, as well as blood, according to the investigation.

During Iona’s negotiated plea, the teen told the judge she just graduated from high school and considers it a blessing to be alive. The teen had multiple surgeries and physical therapy and is now able to walk.

The case was prosecuted by the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit.

Pictured: Zacary Iona, 22.  Photo via Gwinnett County DA