ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Two suspects from Volusia County have been arrested in connection to the violent assault and robbery of a senior in Ormond Beach. The victim described what happened after being hospitalized for his injuries.
According to a report from the Volusia Sheriff's Office, the incident began on February 22nd when 34-year-old Chelsea Wright met with the 73-year-old victim at a bar in Daytona Beach in what the victim thought was a romantic date. The two agreed to go to Wright's residence, and began to drive separately there.
On the drive, the VSO says, Wright picked up a person off the side of the road. They kept going until they stopped again, where Wright is said to have let the passenger out at a home in Ormond Beach's Plantation Pines neighborhood. At this point the victim reportedly got out and started toward Wright's vehicle, before slamming a hard metal object over the victim's head and continuing to beat him as he laid on the ground in a fetal position.
By the time the victim was taken to the emergency room for his injuries, his wallet was gone. Both Wright and the attacker are said to have fled after the assault. The victim was treated for injuries to his head, arms, and torso including severe lacerations and an eye swollen entirely shut.
Investigators were able to identify Wright as the suspect in the assault and robbery and began surveilling her. She was pulled over for a traffic stop at some point in the investigation, and arrested after deputies found narcotics in her vehicle. Upon being interviewed by law enforcement, Wright denied involvement in the victim's beating and said it had been an elderly woman with Alzheimer's who'd done it. Further investigation into Wright's text messages reportedly found that she'd coordinated the attack with her ex-boyfriend, 33-year-old Andrew Marks.
Wright was charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a synthetic cannabinoid with intent to sell or deliver, and violation of probation. Her criminal history in Volusia County is extensive and dates back years, including other charges such petit theft, battery, driving under the influence, trespassing, retail theft, driving with a suspended license,
Marks was charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash, no proof of insurance, expired registration, and careless driving. Both he and Wright remain in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail as of Monday.
