81-year-old man tied up and tortured with hot syrup in Cecil County, police say

An 81-year-old man says he was tied up and tortured after visiting a woman Thursday morning in Cecil County.

Investigators determined the woman conspired with a man to lure the 81-year-old man to a house in Elkton, where they planned to rob him and obtain the code to his safe at home, authorities said.

The victim managed to untie himself and escape when the male suspect fell asleep, the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office said. The victim was taken to Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware to be treated for injuries to his head and body.

The woman, identified as 31-year-old Taylor Storm Falcone, and the male suspect, 28-year-old Austin Michael Maniscalco, were both taken into custody on multiple charges.

Maniscalco and Falcone are each charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, assault, conspiracy to commit assault, theft between $1,500 and $25,000. Maniscalco faces additional charges including false imprisonment.

Stripped and burned with hot syrup

The sheriff’s office said it responded to the scene around 8:30 a.m. Thursday and found the elderly man lying naked in the front yard. Authorities provided the following account:

The victim told authorities he was invited over by Falcone, but when he arrived, Maniscalco was also there and became aggressive toward him.

Maniscalco allegedly tied the victim to a chair using a cord, and then began punching him in the head and face while holding a knife to his throat.

The male suspect ordered the victim to remove his clothing, and then poured hot syrup on his body, causing multiple burns, the sheriff’s office said.

The victim eventually shared the combination for the safe at his home in Delaware, which Maniscalco then wrote in black marker across the man’s forehead, according to the sheriff’s office. Maniscalco also drew on the victim’s chest, marking where his heart would be carved out.

Victim manages to escape

While the victim was tied up, Maniscalco allegedly stole the man’s personal belongings, including the keys to three vehicles, as well as a gold chain, a gold Seiko watch, a gold bracelet and $80 in cash.

The victim told authorities Maniscalco eventually fell asleep, so he was able to untie himself and escape. The sheriff’s office said it received multiple calls about the victim being outside.

Meanwhile, Falcone had left the scene while the assault took place, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials there contacted the New Castle County Police Department, which visited the victim’s home in Delaware and confirmed no one had entered the residence.

The Special Response Team arrived with a tactical vehicle and ordered Maniscalco to surrender. When he refused to come outside, they used the armored vehicle to start breaking down the door. That’s when he surrendered and was placed under arrest.

Falcone eventually returned to the scene, where she, too, was taken into custody.

WJZ is a media partner of The Baltimore Banner.