A 74-year-old man who was tased and robbed by a man he met on Craigslist said the suspect tied his hands and feet and put him in the bathtub, claiming he had to do it for his sick daughter.
Bill, a Parkinson's patient who only wanted to be identified by his first name, told NBC San Diego he met the man he knew as "Ricky Rick" on Craigslist, and the two had planned a date for Tuesday night. However, the man never showed up, and Bill said he forgot to lock the door on his way to bed.
At about 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, Bill woke up to find the suspect -- later identified as 20-year-old Lucas Churchill Holmes -- standing over him, wearing a grey stocking cap.
Holmes allegedly tased Bill until he was laying on the floor. He told him if he struggled, it would be trouble for him.
The suspect then strapped his arms and feet and dragged him to the bathtub. Bill showed NBC San Diego the rug burns he got during the incident.
But in a strange turn of events, the suspect brought Bill pillows to be comfortable in the bathtub. Holmes said he didn't want to do this but he needed the money for his sick daughter, according to Bill.
"I was confused because many times, I thought he was going to kill me," Bill said.
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Holmes promised Bill he would come back in half an hour, untie him and call police, the victim said. The suspect then found a shotgun in Bill's bedroom.
"He asked if I had sentimental attachment to a shotgun," said Bill. "I said, 'Yes it was my father's' and he said I won't take it. He took it and put it back on the bed."
The suspect, he said, then took his debit and credit cards and stole about $600. He demanded the PIN numbers from Bill, who gave them up. Holmes then left.
Bill told NBC San Diego he was able to squirm out of his straps and call police.
Later that day, San Diego police identified Holmes from the telephone number and email address he used to contact the victim. Holmes, who police say is a transient, was arrested Wednesday with the Taser and stolen credit cards on him, according to officials. He will be booked into a jail on robbery and elder abuse charges.
After being treated for scratches and bruises, Bill said, "Now that you told me he's arrested, I feel real good. My partner and I are going to the Brigantine for dinner."
But, he did want to share an important lesson he learned: "I would like people to realize using Craigslist to meet people is risky."
