81-year-old man tied up and tortured with hot syrup for code to his safe, Cecil County Sheriff's Office says

An 81-year-old man says he was tied up and tortured after visiting a woman Thursday morning in Cecil County, Maryland. 

The victim managed to untie himself and escape when the suspect fell asleep, the Cecil County Sheriff's Office said. He was taken to Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware to be treated for injuries to his head and body. 

Investigators determined the woman conspired with a man to lure the 81-year-old victim to a house on Chestnut Drive in Elkton, where they planned to rob him and obtain the code to his safe at home. 

The woman, identified as 31-year-old Taylor Storm Falcone, and the male suspect, 28-year-old Austin Michael Maniscalco, were both taken into custody on multiple charges. 

Stripped and burned with hot syrup

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office said it responded to the scene around 8:30 a.m. and found the 81-year-old victim lying naked in the front yard.

The victim told authorities he was invited over by Falcone, but when he arrived, Maniscalco was also there and became aggressive toward him. 

Maniscalco allegedly tied the victim to a chair using a cord, and then began punching him in the head and face while holding a knife to his throat. 

Maniscalco ordered the victim to remove his clothing, and then poured hot syrup on his body, causing multiple burns, the sheriff's office said. 

The victim eventually shared the combination for the safe at his home in Delaware, which Maniscalco then wrote in black marker across the man's forehead, according to the sheriff's office. Maniscalco also drew on the victim's chest, marking where his heart would be carved out.

Victim manages to escape

While he was tied up, Maniscalco allegedly stole the victim's personal belongings that he brought with him, including the keys to a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette, a 2026 GMC Sierra, and a 2016 Cadillac Escalade, as well as a gold chain, a gold Seiko watch, a gold bracelet, and $80 in cash. 

The victim told authorities Maniscalco eventually fell asleep, so he was able to untie himself and escape. The sheriff's office said it received multiple calls about the victim being outside.

Meanwhile, Falcone had left the scene while the assault took place, according to the sheriff's office. 

They contacted the New Castle County Police Department, which visited the victim's home in Delaware and confirmed no one had entered the residence. 

Suspects face slew of charges

The Special Response Team arrived with its BearCat vehicle and ordered Maniscalco to surrender. When he refused to come outside, they used the BearCat to start breaking down the door. That's when he surrendered and was placed under arrest. 

Falcone eventually returned to the scene, where she was also taken into custody. 

Maniscalco was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, assault first degree, conspiracy to commit assault first degree, second degree assault, conspiracy to commit assault second degree, theft between $1500 and $25000, conspiracy to commit theft, reckless endangerment, and false imprisonment.

Falcone was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit assault first degree, conspiracy to commit assault second degree, and conspiracy to commit theft between $1500 and $25000.