PALM COAST, Fla. – A South Daytona couple was arrested by investigators with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in connection with the invasion and robbery of a woman's home in Palm Coast, deputies say.
Daniel Evans III, 25, and Carisa Noel Hall, 21, both of 1671 Eastern Road, South Daytona, have both been charged with home invasion robbery, according to the Sheriff's Office.
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Pamela Berdebes, 67, told deputies around 9:51 p.m. Sunday she heard a knock at her front door and heard a man call her by her first name. The woman said she thought she recognized the man's voice as being that of her ex-roommate, so she opened the door slightly to check to see who it was.
Upon doing so, Evans pushed the door open, hitting Berdebes in the head and knocking her to the floor. Deputies said Evans entered the home warning Berdebes not to look at him.
At the time, Evans was on a cellphone and it appeared he was taking directions from the person on the other end of the phone, deputies said.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Evans then said to Berdebes "she said you have pills," leading Berdebes to believe the person on the other end of the phone was a woman. Evans then took money and credit cards from the woman's purse and fled.
Investigators obtained the name of Berdebes' ex-roommate, who later became a suspect in the case, identified as Hall. Deputies said investigators learned during their investigation on the night of the incident several attempts were made to use Berdebes' credit card at ATM locations in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach and South Daytona.
Investigators said on at least one occasion Evans attempted to use the card and was declined, prompting him to call the bank in attempt to gain authorization to use the card. Deputies said Evans' personal cellphone number was recorded by the bank's computer system, linking Evans to the credit card.
Investigators obtained video surveillance footage at each location where the card was used and saw a blue Ford Freestyle in the video. Deputies said the car was missing its front bumper. A check of state motor vehicle records by investigators showed Hall's mother had a similar vehicle registered to her. When the vehicle was found it was missing its front bumper, deputies said.
"The detectives assigned to this case did an excellent job in piecing all of the details together and identifying these two subjects," said Sheriff James L. Manfre. "This was not a random incident; it was orchestrated by the victims' ex-roommate. We are happy no one was seriously injured and that Evans and Hall are in jail."
Evans and Hall were taken into custody Thursday evening in South Daytona and were taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where they are being held.