South Carolina – Enver Marius Zueros, 34, of California was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary, kidnapping, and attempted murder after allegedly assaulting an 89-year-old woman in South Carolina.
The arrest occurred on Monday, following the discovery of the victim in critical condition the day before.
Doug Wright, the Summerville Police Chief, provided details during a press conference, expressing his dismay at the events.
“This man will not see the light of day. He will spend the rest of his natural life in prison,” Wright said, reflecting the gravity of the crimes involved.
Distant online relationship and financial support
According to authorities, Zueros had established a distant online relationship with the elderly woman through her brother. Initially, the woman provided financial support for Zueros via text and email.
However, tensions rose when she redirected her financial support to charities, which reportedly irritated Zueros.
The situation escalated when Zueros, ostensibly angered by the shift in financial support, traveled from California and rented an Airbnb near the victim’s residence to carry out his planned assault.
“This wasn’t random,” Wright said. “He knew exactly who he was targeting and had a plan in place. It’s a terrifying example of how dangerous some of these situations can become.”
A neighbor grew suspicious
Zueros broke into the woman’s home the same day of the incident. His presence went almost unnoticed until a retired police officer living nearby became suspicious.
The neighbor approached the house and spoke with Zueros, who lied about the victim’s whereabouts, claiming she had been hospitalized after falling in the shower.
Still skeptical, the neighbor returned home to retrieve a firearm for protection, only to discover that Zueros had fled in the woman’s vehicle.
The police were notified and began a search, which resulted in the discovery of the victim in a shocking state: bound with duct tape, a dog leash securing her ankles, and a bag over her head, hidden beneath the rear folding seats of her own car.
Arrested and held in jail with no bond
Fortunately, the victim survived the ordeal with minor injuries and was said to be doing well considering the circumstances. Zueros was denied bond after his arrest and is now being held in a local jail, facing serious charges that could keep him in custody for the rest of his life.
The incident also sparked a political outcry, with U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, R-S.C., taking to social media to condemn California Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies, claiming they contributed to the criminal activity that spilled into her state.
“@GavinNewsom, keep your criminal scum out of South Carolina,” she posted on Instagram. “This traveling tr*nny and attempted murderer from your state brutalized one of my constituents. “Come get it.
https://twitter.com/RepNancyMace/status/1900570508791349357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1900570508791349357%7Ctwgr%5E58465fdc01375f9aa30ab876babbce44ea037978%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fflorencenewsjournal.com%2Fangry-california-man-tried-to-kidnap-kill-south-carolina-woman-after-she-stopped-sending-him-money%2F
This distressing case highlights not only the potential dangers of online relationships and financial support but also the broader implications of criminal justice policies across state lines.
