Enver Marius Zueros, a 34-year-old man from Mission Viejo, California, is charged with burglary in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, and attempted murder.
He kidnapped an 89-year-old Summerville Woman from the safety of her Summerville home.
Zueros is in custody after police say he kidnapped an 89-year-old Summerville woman in a violent bear spray attack.
He allegedly planned the assault after the elderly victim stopped sending him money. According to investigators, the two were acquaintances connected through the victim’s deceased brother.
Zueros drove from California to South Carolina over ten days to carry out his plan. He knocked on the woman’s door, claiming he had lost a football in her backyard. When she answered, he forced his way inside.
The attack was brutal. Zueros is accused of spraying the woman with bear repellent, hitting her in the face, and tying her to a chair. He then dragged her to the garage, forced her into her own car, and fled.
Authorities located him hours later while he was charging his electric vehicle in North Augusta. The victim was found alive in her car at a North Charleston hotel, bound with duct tape and a dog leash.
During interrogation, Zueros admitted to the targeted attack. Shockingly, he was already out on bond in California for a separate attempted murder charge.
Zueros remains in custody and has been sentenced to fifty years in prison.
Zueros pled guilty on August 25, 2025, to one count of First Degree Burglary and one count of kidnapping. The Honorable Heath Taylor sentenced Zueros to 30 years in prison for Kidnapping and 20 years in prison for First Degree Burglary, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively.
Solicitor David Pascoe
A Watchful Neighbor Saves 89-Year-Old Summerville Woman
An 89-year-old woman from Summerville is safe thanks to the quick actions of a watchful neighbor.
The incident began when Zueros entered the woman’s home.
#HAPPENINGNOW Summerville Police Chief Wright is speaking to media about a kidnapping an attempted murder that happened Sunday.
— Claire Weber | ABC News 4 (@clairecweber) March 13, 2025
Officers are providing an update on a recent arrest. Detail tonight at 5, 6 & 11 @ABCNews4 pic.twitter.com/wPuv58PP2G
What he didn’t know was that a retired law enforcement officer lived next door and checked on the older woman every week.
About thirty minutes after the break-in, that neighbor came by as part of his routine.
He immediately noticed Zueros acting suspiciously and peeking through the window. When the neighbor confronted him, Zueros lied, claiming to be a relative and saying the woman was at the hospital.
The neighbor ran to get his firearm, and during that time, Zueros forced the woman into her car and fled. However, the neighbor’s alertness gave police a crucial head start.
Law enforcement quickly issued an alert for the victim’s car. They were able to track the vehicle and safely rescue the woman, arresting the suspect shortly after.
Police credit the tight-knit community and the neighbor’s vigilance for saving the woman’s life, proving that looking out for one another makes all the difference.
We are able to find her because of good neighbors and caretakers. They provided some vital information to us that had us running down leads pretty quick.
Summerville Police Chief Doug Wright.
An 89-Year-Old Summerville Woman was Found in a Brittle Condition
An 89-year-old woman from Summerville is getting better after the police found her in an inferior condition due to neglect.
The police said she was in a brittle condition, meaning she was fragile. They believed they found her just in time to save her life.
An 89-year-old woman had bruises on her wrists and a large bump on her head when the authorities found her.
Even though she was hurt and scared, the police were amazed by how clear her thinking was. She was able to communicate with them and help them understand what had happened to her.
The police utilized a specialized program to provide her with all the necessary help, including medical care and support.
The police are still investigating and expect to add more charges against Zueros. They said if they had found her any later, she likely would have died.
She is doing well. I spoke to her as soon as we got her out of the car and onto a gurney. I cannot thank enough the EMS from Charleston County that were able to help her and bring calm to the situation. The first thing she asked me was are my dogs, okay?
Solicitor David Pascoe
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The search for the 89-year-old Summerville woman was suspended around 11:45 p.m.
- Summerville Police Chief Wright addressed that if the victim had been found even an hour later, she likely would have died.
- Christopher Schuessler and K-9 Oskar with the North Charleston Police Department found the victim’s purse and other significant evidence during the hunt for Zueros.
