Couple kidnapped Pensacola man, cut his throat and threw him off bridge, police say
A Pensacola, Fla., man met with a couple through Facebook, then they kidnapped him, cut his throat and threw him off a bridge, leaving him for dead.
Miraculously, he survived — and now the two suspects are in custody, facing charges including attempted murder and kidnapping, according to WEAR.
An arrest report obtained by the television station shows the victim first met 25-year-old Natalie Fonseca through Facebook and the two began exchanging messages. Fonseca convinced the victim to help her buy food and he met her at a local taco truck.
The following day, Fonseca wanted to meet again and the victim drove to her home. There, 31-year-old Nafis Reynolds came out of the residence, armed with a handgun. The three drove to a cookout at Reynolds house, after which they left again in the victim’s car.
During the return trip, Fonseca and Reynolds struck the victim multiple times, according to the report, and “told him he was going to die.” They robbed the victim of his shoes, phone, money and his vehicle.
The two suspects took turns cutting his throat, the report said, before throwing him over a bridge into the Escambia River and driving away in his vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned and burned on Highway 98.
Although left for dead, the victim survived and was able to swim before collapsing on a sandbar or other land mass. A passing boater later picked him up and brought him to shore, where he was able to locate a deputy.
The victim was hospitalized for several days, according to the report, but afterward took deputies to Fonseca’s home. Deputies were apparently familiar with the couple, having responded to a disturbance at the residence a month earlier.
Fonseca and Reynolds were located walking near an intersection in Pensacola Monday, according to the report. Fonseca was found with marijuana and a substance which tested positive for fentanyl. Reynolds also had the fentanyl-laced substance in his possession.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Fonseca remained in the Escambia County Jail under $852,000 bond. She is charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, two counts of robbery, arson, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Reynolds also remains jailed, with his bond set at $851,000. He is charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, two counts of robbery, arson and possession of drug paraphernalia.