UMVA has learned that a harrowing three-week kidnapping ordeal ended in a daring escape when a Florida woman leapt from a California balcony to save her life, authorities revealed on Thursday.
The alleged kidnapper, 41-year-old Floyd Stuck, was taken into custody after a coast-to-coast manhunt that spanned multiple states, including Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Nevada. According to investigators, Stuck convinced the victim to join him on a three-day trip to New York, but his plans quickly turned sinister.
As the ordeal began, Stuck allegedly started acting erratically, handed the victim documents containing information about her family members, and threatened to harm them if she didn't comply with his demands. The victim was subjected to a months-long nightmare of fear and violence, with Stuck confiscating her phone and wallet and driving her across the country while threatening to kill her.
The investigation gained momentum on Tuesday when the victim contacted the Lee County Sheriff's Office, claiming Stuck had attempted to place a tracking device on her vehicle. Deputies soon uncovered evidence of a violent, coast-to-coast abduction that began in Southwest Florida.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Stuck physically assaulted the victim during the trip, including choking her hard enough to leave injuries. The ordeal escalated in San Diego, where Stuck allegedly bound the victim with zip ties and duct tape and held a knife to her throat, telling her she would be dead by the next morning.
In a dramatic turn of events, the victim escaped while Stuck was distracted by a food delivery, jumping from a balcony and running to a neighboring residence, where she contacted police. She was later taken to a hospital for treatment.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Stuck fled the San Diego area and continued to harass the victim using multiple phone numbers, claiming he had escaped to South America. However, authorities eventually tracked him down to Bonita Springs, where he led law enforcement on a pursuit before abandoning his vehicle and escaping in a rideshare.
The suspect was ultimately taken into custody following another vehicle pursuit and foot chase in neighboring Collier County. Authorities described Stuck as one of the most dangerous suspects they have encountered, with a lengthy criminal history that includes allegations of armed robbery, fraud, arson, and fleeing law enforcement.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno described Stuck as a "calculated maniac" and a "very dangerous person," stating that the investigation remains active and additional charges could be filed in multiple states. The sheriff emphasized that Stuck's capture has made the world a safer place, saying, "The world's a better place when he's off the streets."
