Terrifying stalker arrested after targeting gay WWE superstar Sonya Deville in a sinister kidnapping plot
Phillip A Thomas II has been charged with attempting to kidnap gay WWE star Sonya Deville. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Gary Gershoff/Getty)
A man obsessed with gay WWE superstar Sonya Deville has been arrested after plotting for eight months to kidnap her and hold her hostage in her own home.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Phillip A Thomas II, 24, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday, 16 August, on charges of aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping, and criminal mischief.
Thomas had travelled from his home in South Carolina to Lutz, Florida, where Deville lives.
Detectives said that on the night of Saturday, 15 August, Thomas parked his car by a church and walked to the WWE star’s house where he cut a hole in the patio screen.
He then spent between three and four hours waiting, watching and listening to her through the windows until she went to bed.
He then snuck in through the back door, but set off the burglar alarm. Deville spotted the intruder, fled her house with a guest and phoned emergency services.
Police arrived at her house to find Thomas still inside, and when he was searched by officers he was found to be carrying a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape and mace.
Detectives said that upon investigation, it emerged that Thomas had been planning to hold Deville hostage in her own home, had been planning the crime for eight months and had been “stalking” the wrestler “on social media for years”.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement: “Our deputies are unveiling the suspect’s disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years.
“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.”
WWE Star Sonya Deville thanked fans for their ‘love and concern’.
Sonya Deville, the first openly lesbian star in WWE and first gay cast member of wrestling reality show Total Divas, took to Twitter on Monday to thank her fans for reaching out.
Thank you everyone for your love and concern. A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe. A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for their response and assistance. 🖤
— Daria/Sonya Deville (@SonyaDevilleWWE) August 17, 2020
She wrote: “Thank you everyone for your love and concern. A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe.
“A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for their response and assistance.”
