A 29-year-old woman and her 20-year-old partner face felony charges after a late-December attack at an apartment off Colonial Drive, authorities said.
ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando couple is accused of luring a man through Instagram and ambushing him with an ax at an apartment complex near Colonial Drive late Monday into early Tuesday, Dec. 30, before stealing his car and cash, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the meeting was set up online and moved to a private apartment, where the victim was struck with an ax during a struggle and robbed at gunpoint. The case matters now because both suspects were arrested Wednesday, one day later, and the charges outline a planned robbery that investigators say used social media as the bait. Detectives are still piecing together the exact timeline inside the unit and whether additional people helped after the theft. The incident occurred during a busy holiday week when apartment traffic and late-night gatherings can complicate witness accounts and camera recovery.
According to deputies, the victim arrived at the apartment after exchanging messages with a woman. Once inside, a man emerged and a fight followed that spilled toward the doorway. Investigators said the victim was hit with an ax, punched and threatened with a firearm as the pair took his phone, wallet and car keys. He called 911 after the suspects fled. Responding units found signs of a struggle and began canvassing the complex for witnesses and surveillance video. The victim told a local television station the encounter was “absolutely terrifying” and said he thought he might die during the beating, adding that he ran when he had a chance and flagged help. Deputies did not release the exact apartment number, citing the active case.
Authorities identified the suspects as Anne Aksell, 29, and Nicholas Lavallee, 20. Aksell is charged with robbery with a firearm, grand theft and aggravated battery. Lavallee faces robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The Sheriff’s Office said the initial call came in around Dec. 30 at an apartment complex off East Colonial Drive in Orlando. Investigators allege Aksell used social media messages to invite the victim to the unit and that Lavallee waited nearby with an ax. The victim suffered cuts and bruises and was treated by medics; his exact condition was not immediately disclosed. The stolen vehicle was later recovered, deputies said. Whether a gun was fired remains unknown.
Public records show both suspects were taken into custody in Orange County and booked into the county jail after interviews with detectives. Bond information and future court dates were not immediately posted in the case file Thursday morning. Detectives are reviewing security video from the complex and nearby businesses on Colonial Drive, and they are analyzing phone records linked to the Instagram account that arranged the meeting. Investigators are also documenting the ax and any other weapons as evidence. The Sheriff’s Office said additional charges are possible if new evidence emerges, and the case will be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for filing decisions.
The attack occurred in a corridor lined with large garden-style apartment complexes and shops east of downtown, where deputies have investigated past holiday-week thefts and social-media meetups that turned into robberies. Law enforcement agencies across Central Florida have reported similar setups in recent years in which a dating or direct-message conversation quickly turned into an ambush in a parking lot or unit. In this case, the meeting happened indoors, which can limit outside witnesses but increase available fingerprints and trace evidence, investigators said. Residents who spoke near the complex Wednesday described hearing shouting and seeing patrol cars racing in after midnight.
As of Friday, both Aksell and Lavallee remained in custody while the State Attorney’s Office reviews the arrest reports and any video collected by detectives. Prosecutors could file formal charging documents in the coming days. Deputies said they plan to release an evidence summary once the initial appearance hearings are complete. The Sheriff’s Office asked any additional witnesses who were in the hallway or parking lot around the time of the attack to contact detectives, and said further updates will be provided after the first court filings next week.
Deputies said the investigation remains open as they verify the path of the stolen car and compare witness statements to video timestamps. The next update is expected after prosecutors make filing decisions early next week.
Author note: Last updated January 2, 2026.