“Deviant villain,” Suspect in elderly kidnapping, attempted murder was out on bond during targeted attack

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – The Summerville Police Department hosted a press conference Thursday to release details surrounding the kidnapping and attempted murder of an elderly woman over the weekend. 

34-year-old Enver Marius Zueros of Mission Viejo, California,  is charged with burglary in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, and attempted murder. He is still in custody as of Thursday and will have a bond hearing with a circuit court judge on a date yet to be determined. 

Summerville Police Chief Doug Wright said Zueros was out on bond for attempted murder in California at the time of the crimes. 

Law enforcement apprehended Zueros Monday evening in North Augusta while he was charging his electric vehicle. He was transported to Summerville on Tuesday and, when interrogated, admitted to the targeted attack. 

Zueros allegedly told investigators that he planned the attack and drove from California to an Airbnb in the area. He was upset with the victim, who had apparently been giving him money, although she had never seen Zuero’s face, Chief Wright said. 

The victim stopped payments to Zueros, so he devised a plan that included traveling to Summerville to extort the victim.  Chief Wright said Zueros is an acquaintance of the victim. The pair are believed to be connected through the victim’s deceased brother.

Around 5:30 p.m., Zueros knocked on the door of an 89-year-old woman on Muirford Village Court in Pine Forest Country Club. When the elderly woman answered the door, Zueros told her he had thrown a football into her backyard, according to Chief Wright. 

He then gained access to the woman’s home and attacked her by spraying her with bear repellent, striking her in the face, and tying her to a kitchen chair.

Zueros did not know that the woman had a retired law enforcement officer neighbor who checked on her weekly. 

According to Chief Wright, about 30 minutes after Zueros gained access to the woman’s home, the neighbor went to check on her. When the neighbor approached, he saw Zueros peeking through the window and moving suspiciously. The neighbor then asked his wife to call the police. 

Zueros answered the door. When the neighbor asked him who he was, Zueros said he was a relative of the victim, which the neighbor knew was a lie. 

Zueros then told the neighbor that the elderly woman was at the hospital because she had fallen and broken her wrist. He also observed what he thought was blood on Zueros’s hand.

After this, the neighbor ran back to his home to get his firearm. While the neighbor went to get his firearm, Zueros dragged the woman, still tied to the kitchen chair, to the garage before untying her and forcing her into her 2014 Subaru Outback and fleeing.
Law enforcement arrived shortly after to gather information and performed a protective sweep of the home. 

While sweeping the home, they found what they thought was cleaned-up blood in the kitchen. That substance was later identified as a bear repellent. They also found items that had been taken off the victim in the garage.

A ‘Be On The Lookout’ alert was sent out for the victim’s vehicle.

Several agencies began tracking the vehicle and isolated it near the Tanger Outlets in North Charleston.

The vehicle was found parked on Arco Lane. Authorities cleared the vehicle and initially thought it was vacant. After noticing a hand moving under the seats, officers broke the windows and found the 89-year-old under the back seats.

The victim was bound by duct tape on her wrist, a dog leash around her ankles, and a trash bag around her head. Chief Wright said if the victim had been found even an hour later, she likely would have died. 

A manhunt ensued that included drones, K9s, and a helicopter. Pfc. Christopher Schuessler and K-9 Oskar with the North Charleston Police Department were able to find the victim’s purse and other important evidence during the hunt for Zueros.

The search was suspended around 11:45 p.m. Sunday before it continued Monday. 

After catching him on surveillance footage, officials were able to positively identify Zueros as the kidnapping suspect.