81-Year-Old Man Allegedly Tied Up, Stripped and Burned With Hot Syrup in Horrifying Safe-Robbery Plot

An 81-year-old man was allegedly lured to a house in Maryland, where two people subjected him to a terrifying ordeal involving beatings, threats and burns from hot syrup in an attempt to force him to reveal the combination to a safe. The shocking incident happened in Elkton, after the elderly victim traveled from neighboring Delaware to meet a woman he reportedly knew.

According to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, the victim arrived at the property on Chestnut Drive to meet 31-year-old Taylor Storm Falcone. Once inside, he allegedly encountered 28-year-old Austin Michael Maniscalco, who became aggressive and restrained him to a chair using an electrical cord. Investigators say Maniscalco repeatedly punched the elderly man and held a knife to his throat while demanding the combination to a safe at the victim’s home.

The alleged abuse then became even more disturbing. Police say the victim was forced to remove his clothing while Maniscalco heated syrup in a microwave and poured it over his body, causing multiple burns. The attacker allegedly continued threatening him until he revealed the safe combination. Investigators say Maniscalco then wrote the code across the victim’s forehead with a marker and made another threatening mark on his chest, indicating where he claimed he would cut out the man’s heart.

Authorities allege that approximately $80 in cash, gold jewelry and keys to three vehicles were stolen during the incident. The vehicles included a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette, a 2026 GMC Sierra and a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. Investigators believe Falcone and Maniscalco had worked together to lure the victim to the property, rob him and gain access to his Delaware home and safe. Falcone allegedly left while the assault was taking place.

The victim eventually managed to escape after Maniscalco fell asleep. Despite his injuries, the elderly man freed himself and left the house, reaching the front yard where he was found naked and visibly hurt at around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4. Emergency responders took him to hospital for treatment. His injuries were reportedly consistent with the account he gave investigators, and he was later released.

Police subsequently arrested Maniscalco following a brief standoff at the property. Falcone was also taken into custody after returning to the residence. Maniscalco faces charges including robbery, assault, theft and false imprisonment, while Falcone faces conspiracy-related charges involving robbery and assault. Both were initially held without bail. The investigation is ongoing, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40957879/elderly-man-stripped-tortured-hot-syrup/