Texas Teen Found in Florida with Armed Felon

When a 15-year-old who said she was going on a church retreat failed to return home, she was found in a Florida vacation rental home with an armed felon.

In mid-July, a 15-year-old girl from Dilley, Texas booked a flight to Ft. Meyers after informing her parents that she would be attending an all-inclusive church retreat in the Sunshine state.

According to the young woman’s friends, they believed she had been talking to a man using social media.

When the girl arrived in Florida, she reportedly left the airport and started walking down the street when she was allegedly met by 38-year-old Vincent Joseph Robusto.

The pair reportedly headed to a Port Charlotte vacation rental home where they shared a meal. The teenager said that Robusto allowed her to smoke from a vape pen after she ate, but she was unable to identify what she had smoked.

A few days after her arrival in Florida, the girl still had not touched base with her parents.

They became concerned for their daughter’s safety and they called the police in Charlotte County.

The young girl’s phone was tracked to the vacation home, and deputies went to the address.

When they knocked they could see a man trying to dart out of sight by leaving the room.

The man was reportedly fully uncooperative, and would not open the door or interact with the authorities.

The deputies enlisted the assistance of the property owner, who persuaded Robusto to bring the young woman to the door.

The police searched the residence and reportedly located a semi-automatic handgun and eight rounds of ammunition. After checking with the church, they learned that the girl was never registered to attend the event.

It was asserted that Robusto forced the girl to stay at the residence against her will.

Robusto was arrested and booked into the Charlotte County Jail on a $325,000 bond. He is facing many charges including false imprisonment of a person against their will, interference with custody of minor, possession of firearm ammunition or weapon by us convicted felon, drug paraphernalia delivery to minor, and possession of firearm ammunition or weapon by a convicted felon.

If you or someone you love is suspected of a domestic violence offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.