A man and woman allegedly plotted to lure an 81-year-old man to a Maryland home, where he was restrained and tortured as part of a robbery scheme to get access to his safe, a sheriff’s office said.
Deputies responding to reports of an injured person lying naked outside of an Elkton residence found the older man the morning of Wednesday, November 4, according to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.
The man, who had “visible injuries to his head and body area,” was taken to a hospital and revealed he was violently assaulted and robbed inside the Elkton house, the sheriff’s office said in a news release shared with Us.
An investigation led to the arrests of Austin Michael Maniscalco, who’s accused of torturing the 81-year-old, and Taylor Storm Falcone.
Maniscalco, 28, of Elkton, is facing a slew of charges, including robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, assault, conspiracy to commit assault, theft between $1,500 and $25,000, reckless endangerment, and false imprisonment, according to the sheriff’s office.
Falcone, 31, of Elkton, is also facing charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit assault and conspiracy to commit theft between $1,500 and $25000.
The 81-year-old told investigators he went to the Elkton home to meet Falcone, according to authorities. Maniscalco was also there.
“The victim advised that Mr. Maniscalco soon became angry and aggressive toward him,” the sheriff’s office said. “Mr. Maniscalco tied the victim to a chair utilizing a cord and refused to allow the victim to leave. The victim was then assaulted by Mr. Maniscalco in multiple ways including being punched in the head and face with a closed fist and having a knife held against his throat.”
Afterward, Maniscalco allegedly removed the man’s clothes as he remained tied to the chair and burned him with hot syrup.
“The victim stated that Mr. Maniscalco used these ‘torture’ tactics to obtain the combination to a safe located at the victim’s residence in Delaware,” the sheriff’s office said. “The victim provided the combination to the safe. Mr. Maniscalco used a black marker to write the combination to the safe across the victim’s forehead. Also, an area on the victim’s chest was marked to indicate where his heart would be carved out.”
Maniscalco is accused of stealing multiple items from the man, including a gold chain, gold watch, gold bracelet and keys to three cars.
The man managed to escape the home after Maniscalco fell asleep, he told investigators.
Both Maniscalco and Falcone were ultimately taken into custody.
Information on whether they retained legal counsel wasn’t immediately available.
They’re being held in the Cecil County Correctional Facility without bond.
