A longtime stalker who has a "disturbing obsession" with WWE star Sonya Deville broke into her Florida home Sunday in a failed attempt to take her as a hostage, authorities said.
Phillip Thomas II, of South Carolina, traveled hundreds of miles to the victim's home in Tampa to commit a crime he had planned for eight months, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
The 24-year-old parked his car at a nearby church late Saturday night, walked to her property, cut a hole in the patio screen and stayed there for about three to four hours, watching and listening through the windows, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The professional wrestler, whose real name is Daria Berenato, went to bed just before 3 a.m. Sunday, prompting Thomas to make his move, police say.
Thomas went into the house through the back sliding glass door, which immediately set off the alarm, authorities said. That's when Berenato looked out the window and saw the man on her property.
She and her guest fled the home in a car and called 911 before Thomas could get near them, according to the release.
Deputies arrived moments later and caught the suspect still inside the house with a mace, duct tape, plastic zip ties and other items, the sheriff's office said.
Thomas allegedly confessed to traveling to Tampa to take the victim as a hostage.
Authorities did not name the woman, but the home that was broken into belongs to Berenato. The 26-year-old New Jersey native, who also stars in the reality show "Total Divas" on E!, thanked the sheriff's office in a tweet Sunday night.
"Thank you everyone for your love and concern," she wrote. "A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe. A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for their response and assistance."
Thomas was charged with aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping and criminal mischief.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said the case could've had a much different outcome if it weren't for the alarm.
"Our deputies are unveiling the suspect's disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years," he said in a statement. "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."
