Norfolk, Va. – One man was looking for love online, but instead he says he was beaten up and robbed when he went to meet a woman he saw on the popular dating site, Plenty Of Fish.
“I was definitely catfished,” he says.
The man didn’t want to show his face or give his name but felt compelled to share his story. A few weeks ago he says he messaged a woman named Kim on the online dating site.
“I just messaged her because I thought she was attractive,” he says.
On July 2nd they agreed to meet at a home on Hough Avenue in Norfolk. But when he knocked on the door, he says the person who answered looked nothing like Kim.
“Completely different person,” he says. “Much heavier, apparently younger.”
He says a gut feeling told him to leave but he chose to ignore that, hoping Kim may be in another room. Instead police say it was 19-year-old Shaquan Bethea and 20-year-old Devonte Young who attacked him.
“I reached for the doorknob twice and they wouldn’t let me out,” the man says. “He asked me about some money, he reached in my pockets. I took his hands out of my pockets and that was when I was attacked.”
The man says the men repeatedly punched him in the back of the head and stole $60 from his wallet before letting him go.
He called 911. Within minutes police showed up and arrested Bethea and Young along with their accused accomplice, a 17-year-old girl. He hopes his story is a cautionary tale for other online daters.
“Obviously be careful,” he says. “Know as much information as you can about a situation before you get into it.”
NewsChannel 3 spoke with Bethea and Young exclusively at the Norfolk City Jail. They both say they live at the home and asked the man to leave.
When he wouldn’t, Bethea and Young say the man started the fight.
Both men are facing robbery and abduction charges and are scheduled to be back in court in August. The 17-year-old girl is also behind bars.
