A North Carolina woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly locking her boyfriend inside a storage unit for four days without food or water.
Robin Renae Deaton, 52, was arrested in Charlotte on Thursday. She is also facing a kidnapping charge.
The incident happened in Monroe, North Carolina. According to police, Deaton’s boyfriend called 911 on February 24, saying that she had locked him inside the storage unit on February 20 after they had a heated argument.
The man told police that Deaton slammed the door shut and said, “This is what you get,” before locking him inside with two padlocks.
When he finally managed to call 911, he told dispatchers, “I’ve been locked inside a storage unit for about a week now, and I just now found my phone.”
When asked if he needed medical help, he replied, “I just need out of here. I can’t. I just can’t breathe. I haven’t had anything to drink. I know there’s two locks on this. She put two locks on it for some reason.”
He explained that he had no cell service inside the unit, which is why he couldn’t call earlier. He also said he struggled to find his phone because the unit was packed with clutter.
Authorities described the storage space as a “hoarder’s paradise,” meaning it was filled with so many items that it was difficult to move around.
“As soon as the officers opened up the door, things started falling out. The further they opened it, more stuff fell out,” said Monroe Police Lt. Morgan Malone in an interview with WBTV.
After being rescued, the man was taken to the hospital for dehydration. Fortunately, he has since been released and is recovering.
Meanwhile, Deaton was arrested and is currently being held without bond at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. Her case has been sent to the Union County District Attorney’s Office for further legal action.
Authorities have not provided further details on what led to the argument or if Deaton has a criminal history. However, the investigation is ongoing, and she is expected to face serious legal consequences for her actions.
This shocking case has raised concerns about domestic abuse and the extreme measures some people take during conflicts. Many are now waiting to see what legal steps will be taken against Deaton in court.
