Armed Florida burglars allegedly used an Apple AirTag to hunt down a couple, then abducted them at gunpoint in their own garage — a horrifying home invasion officials called 'every family’s worst nightmare.'
Luis Charles, 26, and Odardy Maldonado-Rodriguez, 32, allegedly attached an Apple AirTag to the underside of an unsuspecting couple’s SUV, then followed them home to Odessa and ambushed them on August 19, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The brazen duo crept up on the couple as they stepped out of their car in the driveway, grabbing them and forcing them into the garage, according to surveillance footage released by the sheriff’s office.
Two Odessa, Florida, residents were held at gunpoint by armed men outside their home on August 19, 2025. .Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
One of the suspects, wearing a bright green shirt and a high-visibility safety vest, pulled a gun from his pocket and yanked the woman out of the passenger seat.
The second suspect, dressed in dark clothing with a hoodie and mask, grabbed the male driver.
The armed men forced the couple into their home — but not before the woman fought back, making the man in the neon vest drag her inside.
“To be ambushed at gunpoint in the very place you should feel safest is every family’s worst nightmare,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
An alarm inside the home went off, prompting the two suspects to flee before deputies arrived, the sheriff’s office said.
One suspect wore a high-visibility safety vest, while the other was dressed in dark clothing and a mask. .Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
The woman fought back, but the attacker grabbed her and carried her inside. .Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Charles was arrested by Tampa police during a traffic stop on October 8.
A police bodycam captured the moment the wanted suspect was handcuffed outside his vehicle. Two days later, Maldonado-Rodriguez was arrested in neighboring Pasco County.
Both men face multiple charges, including armed burglary, two counts of armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment, and the illegal installation of a tracking device.
“Thanks to the work of our detectives, these dangerous criminals are now behind bars where they belong, and the victims, along with our community, can rest a little easier,” Chronister said.
Luis Charles was arrested in Tampa, Florida, during a traffic stop on October 8, 2025. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Luis Charles and Odardy Maldonado-Rodriguez were arrested and face charges including armed burglary, armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment, and the illegal installation of a tracking device. .Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
While in custody, Charles was charged with sexual battery by a familial or custodial authority against a person between the ages of 12 and 18, according to jail records obtained by The Post.
Both suspects are being held without bond at a Hillsborough County jail.
Charles was placed on a “Border Patrol – Federal, ICE Notification” hold.
