Cops: Couple fakes kidnapping, demands parents' money
They claimed they had been kidnapped by two armed men in a sport utility vehicle who were holding them in return for money they owed for drugs, Suffolk County police said.
It turned out, police said, Mastic Beach couple Stephanie Benatatos, 21, and her boyfriend, Zifiris (John) Valsamis, 24, faked the whole episode Sunday — in an attempt to obtain money from her parents.
Now the two are under arrest, charged with second-degree attempted grand larceny and fifth-degree conspriacy. In addition, Benatatos was charged with second-degree burglary for stealing from her parents’ home on June 13.
Both Benatatos and Valsamis are scheduled for arraignment Monday in First District Court in Central Islip, police said.
Police said the incident unfolded Sunday when the couple called Benatatos’ mother at 5:20 p.m., claiming they had been abducted from the Mastic Beach area by two armed men in a black SUV. Later, police said Valsamis told Benatatos’ mother that the kidnappers had released him — but said they would hurt her daughter if he did not pay them money he owed them for drugs.
An investigation by Seventh Squad detectives determined the kidnapping did not occur.
Police did not detail how detectives reached that conclusion, but said Benatatos and Valsamis were arrested Sunday night and charged in the hoax.
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Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
