Florida Burglars Use AirTag to Track and Abduct Couple Outside Home: A Family’s Worst Nightmare
Two individuals in Florida allegedly tracked a couple using an Apple AirTag before abducting them at gunpoint in a frightening home invasion. Authorities described the event as “every family’s worst nightmare.”
Tracking and Abduction in Odessa, Florida
On August 19, 2025, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported an alarming incident in Odessa. Luis Charles, 26, and Odardy Maldonado-Rodriguez, 32, reportedly attached an Apple AirTag to a couple’s SUV. They then followed the couple to their home and ambushed them.
Details of the Abduction
The assailants confronted the couple as they exited their vehicle in the driveway. One suspect, wearing a high-visibility safety vest, threatened the woman with a weapon, while the other, dressed in dark clothing, targeted the male driver. The attackers forced them into the garage, with the woman attempting to resist.
However, an alarm was triggered inside the house, prompting the suspects to flee before law enforcement arrived. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized the horror of being ambushed at one’s home.
Arrests and Charges
- On October 8, 2025, police arrested Luis Charles during a traffic stop in Tampa.
- Two days later, authorities captured Odardy Maldonado-Rodriguez in Pasco County.
Criminal Charges
Both suspects face multiple charges, including:
- Armed burglary
- Armed kidnapping
- Robbery with a firearm
- False imprisonment
- Illegal installation of a tracking device
In addition, Charles was charged with sexual battery involving a minor between 12 and 18, according to jail records. Both men are detained without bond in Hillsborough County, with a federal hold placed on Charles.
Sheriff Chronister praised the detective work that led to these arrests, assuring the community can now feel a sense of relief.
