Man Accused Of Attempting To Kidnap WWE Wrestler From Lutz Home

LUTZ, FL — A South Carolina man who has stalked WWE wrestler Sonya Deville for years on social media was arrested Sunday and accused of traveling to Deville's home in Lutz to kidnap her, authorities said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Phillip A. Thomas II, 24, had been planning the kidnapping for more than eight months.

Detectives said Thomas parked his car at Idlewild Baptist Church earlier that night and walked to Deville's home in the Promenade at Lake Park subdivision in Lutz. He cut a hole in the home's patio screen and remained there for about three to four hours, watching and listening through the windows, detectives said.

After Deville went to bed, Thomas entered through the back sliding glass door, which activated the home alarm at 2:43 a.m. and awakened Deville, detectives said said. She looked out the window and spotted Thomas on the property, detectives said. Deville and a guest in the home fled in a car and called 911.

When deputies arrived, they said, Thomas was still inside the residence. Deputies said they discovered he was carrying a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape, mace and other items.

He told deputies he was planning to take Deville, 26, hostage, deputies said.

Deville's real name is Daria Berenato.

"Our deputies are unveiling the suspect's disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "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. Our deputies arrived within minutes and arrested this man who was clearly on a mission to inflict harm."

Thomas was charged with aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping and criminal mischief.