ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) — Officials arrested a couple this week for allegedly assaulting a man, stealing his car, and throwing him into a river.
According to a news release from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the victim and Natalie Fonseca met on social media, and they arranged to go on a date. During the date, the victim and Fonseca allegedly went to her house, where she introduced him to her “uncle,” Nafis Reynolds.
The three reportedly drove to the victim’s home and continued what the Sheriff’s Office called an “unorthodox date” before leaving the house again.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, while they were on the road, “Fonseca and Nafis both hit the victim several times and told him he was going to die.”
The pair allegedly stole the victim’s shoes, phone, money, and car.
Fonseca and Reynolds reportedly “took turns cutting his throat before throwing him over the bridge rail and into Escambia River.”
Afterward, the couple fled the scene in the stolen car, but the vehicle was later spotted on West 98 after it had been set on fire.
The Sheriff’s Office said the male victim survived the cuts, “unbeknownst to our would-be killers,” as well as the fall from the bridge. He managed to swim to safety on the bank of the river and flagged down a deputy for help.
Escambia County detectives arrested Reynolds and Fonseca on charges of attempted murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery, and kidnapping. They were booked into the Escambia County Jail on Oct. 23.
According to records, Fonseca’s bond was set at $852,000, while Reynolds’ was set at $851,000.
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