A Florida woman survived a frightening three-week kidnapping that involved her ex-boyfriend and a coast-to-coast journey. She ultimately saved herself by leaping from a California balcony, according to authorities.
Arrest and Charges
Floyd Stuck, 41, was arrested and faces charges of kidnapping, aggravated stalking, installing a tracking device without consent, and fleeing law enforcement, as announced by Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno. Authorities described the ordeal as a violent abduction starting in Southwest Florida.
Start of the Nightmare
The investigation began when the victim contacted Lee County Sheriff’s Office after discovering Stuck attempted to place a tracking device on her vehicle. Deputies soon revealed a months-long ordeal.
This suspect is a calculated maniac and a very dangerous person.– Sheriff Carmine Marceno
The Ordeal Unfolds
Stuck persuaded the victim to join him on a supposed three-day trip to New York to visit family, leaving Lee County on April 20. Erratic behavior on the road led to altered plans. He handed her documents about her family, threatening harm if she did not comply.
Cross-Country Terror
Stuck took her phone and wallet, driving through states like Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Nevada, while threatening her life. Allegations of physical assault, including choking, were reported.
Imagine being kidnapped, sitting next to a violent psychopath, wondering if every mile farther from home is where you will be killed.– Sheriff Carmine Marceno
Escape in San Diego
Upon reaching San Diego, Stuck allegedly restrained her with zip ties and duct tape, holding a knife to her throat, claiming she would not live beyond the next day. After three days, she escaped while he was distracted, jumping from a balcony and seeking help from a nearby residence. She was then hospitalized.
Post-Escape Harassment
Stuck fled San Diego before his arrest, using multiple phone numbers to harass the victim, trying to convince her he had escaped to South America. She returned to Lee County in mid-May.
Renewed Threat and Capture
The case re-emerged when home security footage allegedly showed Stuck attempting to install another tracking device on her vehicle. Deputies swiftly responded, initiated a search, and spotted him in Bonita Springs. Fleeing a traffic stop, he abandoned his vehicle but was later apprehended in Collier County after another chase.
Knowing that Stuck was free and capable of harming others was not acceptable to us.– Sheriff Carmine Marceno
Dangerous History and Legal Proceedings
Stuck’s criminal past is extensive, involving armed robbery, fraud, arson, and more. At the time of his arrest, he was out on bond for a Collier County fraud case involving over $100,000 and numerous victims.
There is no doubt in my mind that everything has continued to escalate and that if we didn’t intervene, the results could have been homicide.– Sheriff Carmine Marceno
The investigation is ongoing, with potential for additional charges across various states.
Reporter Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
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