Police: Man lured to death after online date
AUBURNDALE, Fla. (WFLA) — An Auburndale man looking for love was lured to his death through an online dating site. On Friday, Auburndale Police found 27-year-old Adam Hilarie shot to death in his apartment on Sunset Avenue.
According to police, Hilarie met 18-year-old Haliey Rose Bustos on the online dating site “Plenty of Fish.” They went on a date Thursday evening, police said. After he dropped her off, Bustos allegedly conspired with three others. She and the other suspects returned to Hilarie’s apartment Friday to rob him, which ultimately led to his murder, police said.
“Once she got home, they talked together; they worked out the details and then went back and committed the murder,” Auburndale Police Deputy Chief Andy Ray said. “I think the plan was that he get robbed and that they take his stuff.”
Auburndale police detectives charged and arrested Bustos, 18, of Auburndale; Andre Warner, 26, of Auburndale; Gary Terrell Gray, 31, of Lakeland; and Joshua Ellington, 26, of Lake Alfred.
Detectives believe Bustos went on the online dating site and met Hilarie with the intent of setting him up for the robbery. “Her comfort with the way this went, didn’t seem like it was her first time. If she hasn’t done it before, then she has talked to people who have done it,” Deputy Chief Ray said.
Hilarie’s family, including his 5-year old daughter, is devastated. “She doesn’t even quite understand yet. I would never want anyone to be in the shoes I am in right now, or my family, or any of our close friends, anyone. I don’t want no one to feel the way we’re feeling right now,” the victim’s brother, Angel Cruz, said.
Cruz hopes others will take a warning from this. “He had to sacrifice his life for it not to happen anymore,” he said.
Deputy Chief Ray said this is a good reason to get to know someone before going out with them. “There’s so many places that you can check people out now on the computer. It’s probably a good idea to that first. You need to get to know them better so you can judge their character and also judge their intentions. Sometimes you can figure that out. But, also, as a first date, it’s not a good idea to take somebody to your home,” he said.
The suspects’ charges include conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with a firearm/deadly weapon and first-degree murder.