A man has been arrested in the US state of Florida after a failed attempt at kidnapping WWE star Sonya Deville.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Phillip A. Thomas II began planning the abduction eight months ago.
Thomas had never met Deville but had a ‘disturbing obsession’ with her and stalked her on social media.
The 24-year-old was inside Deville’s home when police arrived.
Thomas was carrying a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape and mace and said he planned on taking the homeowner hostage.
The 26-year-old WWA star fled in a car after the alarm system was activated by Thomas breaking into the house through a back sliding door after 2am in the morning.
Deville later took to social media to reveal “everyone is safe”:
Thomas was held without bail and charged with aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping and criminal mischief.
“Our deputies are unveiling the suspect’s disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
“It’s frightening to think of all the ways this incident could have played out had the home alarm not gone off and alerted the homeowner of an intruder.”
The Sheriff’s Office issued a news release describing what apparently happened, noting Thomas parked his car in a church, walked to Berenato’s home, cut a hole in the patio screen, remained there until the homeowner went to bed and then entered the home.
Deville is the first openly gay female wrestler in WWE history.