Nicholas Kollias and his college buddy spent nearly two days in hell, held captive, tortured, even shot. What Nicholas doesn't know is that the cavalry is on the way. "So they'd give us a little bit of a lead and we'd be able to follow up on that, we'd wind up in the dead end, we'd have to come back and get more information. "It's clearly his face. Browse Seminole local obituaries on Legacy.com. So they told the girls to go get the football players who ripped them off. The students were reported missing Saturday evening, hours after they were last seen near the school. In November, four of those defendants received sentences ranging from 13 to 35 years in prison. The earlier robbery allegedly occurredat an off-campus Brooks Landing student apartment building. "There was nothing I could do, and then I just remember getting hit over the head with a bat and I'm laying on the ground and these men are just screaming, just 'Don't fight us, just take it and don't try and escape,'" said Nicholas. He took an active part in the Macedonian Struggle and would once . "I said 'Here's the two locations, plan cold hits on both houses, you're gonna do one and then we're gonna have to do the second one if the first house wasn't right.'". "They were extremely organized," said Nicholas. Kollias suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during the 40 hours he was . He tried to sprint to a door, and was shot in the leg. Lydell Strickland, David Alcaraz-Ubiles, Inalia Rolldan andRuth Loraare now on trial for alleged roles in the abduction and subsequent brutality. and Police: 4 women and 2 men charged in U of R students' kidnapping - News - Fairport-E.Rochester Post - Fairport, NY. The defendants convinced a woman to flirt with Ewo on Facebook. Though saying he had no information to support the alleged connection, Seligmansaid UR was working with local police, UR Public Safety and campus housing to "strengthen campus safety and to address drug use on campus. What had seemed like an innocent college date night was suddenly looking like a vicious setup. Police said they were repeatedly beaten with fists, clubs and other. "They were in a nice car. According to a police statement, the young men from Illinois had been forcibly abducted and held at gunpoint, during which they were robbed and beaten with fists, clubs and other objects. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. They were instead held against their will, beaten, shot and sexually assaulted over the course of 40 hours. I didn't want to die and give in to these people.". Victim opens up about 40 hours of torture by gang - Rolling Out He also filed a $10 million lawsuit against those convicted in the abduction. A SWAT team rescuedKollias and Ewo that Sunday night from a home some four miles from the Rochester college campus. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo, both seniors at the school, were reported missing on Saturday evening under "suspicious circumstances," police said. Outside of court Thursday afternoon, Prosecutor Matthew Schwartz wouldn't say whether Ewo planned to testify, and declined to identify other potential witnesses he might call. Kollias also suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his leg in the ordeal. 'I do want to point out this was a directed event and we have no information or evidence of any kind that this constituted a general threat to the University of Rochester community, nor do we have any information or evidence that there is a threat or safety concern to the University of Rochester community at this point,' he said, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). A Cup of Joe - Pardalis and Nohavicka Attorneys If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. So Ani took a quick picture of me and sent it to them.". Undercover officers monitor the two locations. It is surrounded by Pinellas County enclaves in all directions. Police say they. The mugshots of the six young men and women accused of kidnapping two University of Rochester athletes were released on Friday, nearly a week after they allegedly lured the two men to an apartment and held them captive for 40 hours of terror. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It's not over. "One of four boys, just a really close-knit family, very caring parents," Nicholas tells Crime Watch Daily. "Trying to track down the two women that they had met up with," said Peters. After hours of torture, the masked men leave. But is all this really just about money? They got us out of the house, got me into an ambulance and off to the hospital.". "They came into the room with their masks on and guns and weapons," said Nicholas. "My leg was like gel. Despite his reservations about going off campus to a high-crime area, Kollias decided to tag along and got into a car with the women and Ewo. After more than 40 hours of sheer hell, Nicholas and Ani are reunited with their families. Nicholas is now trying to move on with his life. The other four take their chances at trial. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo, both University of Rochesterfootball players from Illinois, were lured to a home for what they thought was a Saturday night house party. Dec. 7, 2015 Listen for free View show details . "He was like trying to untie us real fast.". Rochester Police said a SWAT team rescued the two students at approx at 9:20 p.m. Sunday. Kollias saidhe lost four pints of blood -- almost 40 percent in the average human body -- as nine kidnappers threatened to chop off his toes and doused him with lighter fluid, threatening to light him on fire. SWAT is now ready to hit the first address: 22 Harvest Street. Kollias described his torture and stated that the gang jabbed knives under their toes, doused them with flammable liquid, threatened to set them on fire, sexuallyassaulted them and fired a gun near their heads. Cancela en cualquier momento. He's also a classical pianist. Nicholas is beaten with a hedge-trimmer, a bat, a pipe, then hit over the head again, this time with a fluorescent bulb. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). "The cellphone video was clearly, in my opinion, the most essential piece of evidence and perhaps yes, also the most damning as well," said Schwartz. Kollias and Ewo were taken to a nearby hospital, where they are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries. Six people have been charged in their abduction. And just when they thought their time was up, a miracle occurred. However, it turned out to be a trap. It is not clear why they were targeted. "They put me into the shower where they started washing me, and the entire tub is just red," said Nicholas. Police said. Jurors also heard audiotapes of phone calls that Kollias said he was forced to make on Saturday and Sunday to his financial institutions, seeking to raise his credit lines or get access to investment accounts. Then they find the second girl, Leah Gigliotti. The assailants, who took the UR student's credit cards, ATM cards and telephone, seemed almost gleeful, according to the testimony. According to police, Ewo and fellow student Nicholas Kollias were abducted Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 in . Bound, beaten, tortured: Students survive 40-hour ordeal The Chicago Tribune revisits how the classical pianist and athlete from the Chicago suburb of Northbrook was kidnapped on the night of Dec. 4, 2015, along with fellow student Ani Okeke Ewo, after . "My femur was completely broken in half," he said. He also had shards of glass embedded in his eardrum when a light bulb was smashed on his head. SWAT Team Made a Dynamic Entry: Rochester Police Chief - NBC News 6 charged after 2 Chicago-area students abducted in New York Both students were hospitalized but have since been released. I got up as fast as I could and tried running to the side door," said Nicholas. Then the camera swings right to reveal Nicholas curled up in pain as the kidnappers throw slurs and prod his injured leg. A decent house and pretty girls. As of 2007, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,195. It's now Sunday night, 9 p.m., almost 40 hours into this kidnapping nightmare. Kollias and Ewo were sexually assaulted,. ", "They said 'Don't worry, they're not gonna be hurt,'" said Peters. Copyright 2022 Rolling Out. During his playing time with the Rochester football team, Ani made 31 appearances across 4 years with some impressive tackles. "They started saying that I was lying to them and that my cards weren't working anymore and then they said that they were going to kill us.". Six arraigned in kidnapping of college students | News December 4,. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo were last seen around 2 a.m. Saturday near the school. Several masked men brandish guns, knivesand chainsaws as they threaten and taunt the two students, who lie bleeding and injured on a bathroom floor. Inalia Rolldan was indicted on two counts of second-degree kidnapping but not assault charges. Relatives. The following day, a police SWAT team entered the house, rescuing the students, and nine people were eventually arrested and charged in the horrific incident. Ani Okeke Ewo is a student at The University of Rochester who is believed to be in his early twenties and played as a cornerback for The University of Rochester football team and hometown Romeoville, Illinois. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. All rights reserved (About Us). "I knew that it was going to be high-profile and it affected a lot of people in this community personally, so I really wanted to make sure that my best people were on it," said Doorley. Fourth UR abduction defendant accepts plea. "My life was put in jeopardy on numerous occasions all because of Isaiah getting bailed out, and poor decision-making on many university officials.". In December 2015, Nicholas Kollias and fellow senior Ani Okeke Ewo, both University of Rochester football players, were kidnapped near the New York campus. 2023 www.democratandchronicle.com. University police sent out a statewide alert over the weekend that seniors Ani Okeke Ewo, of Aurora, and Nicholas Kollias, of Northbrook, had been missing since 2 a.m. Saturday. Six Charged In New York Abduction Of Two College Students - CBS News "I was the one that got the majority of all of the beating and abuse, and so, you know, it was just not a good experience to have someone who you thought you could trust and just kind of being the complete opposite to you.". Five men and four women, all Rochester-area residents in their late teens and early 20s, were convicted of kidnapping and other crimes. and UR abduction case:. "My body was in such bad shape," said Nicholas Kollias. Im not going to give up without a fight, he recalled thinking. They make their way through the kitchen. At a press conference late Sunday night,. It shows males can be survivors as well. One of the women reached out to Ewo via Facebook and text messages, Kollias said, and he and Ewo met them one night and went with them to the house. "I didn't think I was going to make it until (that) Monday," Kollias, 23, told theChicago TribuneTuesday. Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com Some defendants and, at times,victims' names, were redacted in the indictment. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In this undated photo provided by the University of Rochester, Ani Okeke Ewo poses for a photo. They soon catch a break when they track down the girl who messaged Ani. PICTURED: The six accused of abducting two Rochester students The two friends were the. Getting it right the first time could be the difference between life and death. University of Rochester Public Safety officers and Rochester Police know the clock is ticking. University of Rochester students abducted, held hostage Neither victim hadbeen heard from publiclyuntil Kollias testified in court. ", What happened: Timeline of NY college student kidnapping, In court, UR abduction suspect threatens to 'knock out' his lawyer, UR students' abduction: 'The victims were terrorized repeatedly', ESPN to feature former UR football player who was abducted, tortured. The six charged have not yet entered pleas. Lydell Strickland, 26, was sentenced to155 years in prison for planning the attack as well as charges ofrobbery, assault and sex abuse. When the kidnapping turn out to be a mistake of identity and resulted in complex deceit where drug dealer Smith had arranged an earlier fake robbery earlier. It's deeply disturbing. Nicholas plans to file a civil suit against the University of Rochester. David Alcaraz-Ubiles, one of his co-defendants, was found guilty of kidnapping and weapons charges and sentenced to 15 years in prison, which he will serve after completing a separate 15-year sentence for an unrelated crime. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? All six suspects are due in court on Friday for a preliminary hearing. University of Rochester: Six People Charged in Kidnapping of Students They don't even know if it's the right house. In December 2016, Strickland, who was believed to be the leader, was sentenced to 155 years in prison after being found guilty on 31 charges, that included assault, gang assault, and robbery. 80 Main Street Suite 380 West Orange, NJ 07052 973.736.1800 [email protected] Nicholas Kollias, of Northbrook, Illinois, and Ani Okeke Ewo, of Aurora, Illinois, were reported missing Saturday evening, hours after they were last seen near the school. RPD: U of R students targeted for kidnapping | WHAM He may have made it there, but he wasn't home free. A former Upstate New York studentis speaking out for the first time about the abuse and torture he suffered when abducted in December 2015. UR students abducted, hurt, prosecutor says. "Then before I knew it we showed up at the house.". The two men were then taken into the bathroom and had their hands and feet taped together and were tortured with hedge clippers and other improvised weapons before being sexually assaulted for the next 40 hours. Our focus as a university is on our two students as they recover from their ordeal. The two friends were the victims of a case of mistaken identity. College football players Ani Okeke Ewo and Nicholas Kollias were Earlier Monday night, police said they recovered the BMW SUV that they believed the two were traveling in before they were abducted. Koblas, Nikolai - The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous Second person pleads guilty in UR kidnapping case. Print fond memoriesThis pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo, both University of Rochesterfootball players from Illinois, were lured to a home for what they thought was a Saturday night house party. What Is The Use Of Judging Matters Show? A former Upstate New York studentis speaking out for the first time about the abuse and torture he suffered when abducted in December 2015. This week Evil Talks: Chilling Confessions spotlights the disturbing case of Ani Okeke Ewo and Nicholas Kollias, who were kidnapped and tortured in a drug related revenge attack. However, on Sunday evening there was a huge explosion and flash as the SWAT team burst into the house and rescued the two men. St. Petersburg College has a campus in the city. "She was trying to give us the runaround. Hearings to determine attorneys for the others are expected later this week, a court employee said. But this Friday night out would be like no other. Read more at the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune. Few details have been released about the case so far, and even the defense attorneys of some of the suspects say they haven't received a full story about what happened. Lydell Strickland gets 155 years to life. Image source: University of Rochester Athletics, Amanda Pflugrad Age, Husband, Career, and Other Facts, Joao Maleck Five Fast Facts About The Rising Star, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Sade is a contributor with a bias on Nigerian stars, Lexie Bigham How He Began, What He Did, How He Died, Jessi Nakles Heres Everything We Know About Her, What Became of Sean Caracena And Cause Of His Death, Simon Jacques Bio, Career Highlights, Cause of Death, Martell Lane: How He Started And How He Died. So it was definitely a case of mistaken identity," said Scott Peters. Seniors Ani Okeke Ewo of Aurora, Illinois, and Nicholas Kollias of Northbrook, Illinois, both 21, were last seen Saturday around 2 a.m. near campus in a white 2005 BMW SUV, according to the . He still has a titanium rod in his left leg and a bullet lodged in his right calf. "I thought about my parents and how much I mean to them and how much they mean to me and I didn't want this to be the end," said Nicholas. Disfruta de Audible en tu smartphone, tablet, ordenador o Amazon Echo. Nikolaos Kollias ( Greek: ; born in Selitsa, Voio) was a Greek revolutionary and soldier. Lydell Strickland, 26, was sentenced to155 years in prison for planning the attack as well as charges ofrobbery, assault and sex abuse. Police said Nicholas Kollias, of Northbrook, Illinois, and Ani Okeke Ewo, of Aurora, Illinois, were abducted and held hostage, and one suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. "I'm not going to close my eyes. "I just remember like touching my head and having all this blood just coming down everywhere," said Nicholas. Sexual assault alleged in UR kidnapping case - Democrat and Chronicle "This is a once-in-a-career rescue. "I mean obviously he was in better shape than I was, he wasn't shot. "The torture consists of something you would see in a movie, but it's not a movie because this is real life," he said. They drove into a rougher area of town and the guys got a little worried, but they still followed the two women into a house. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo, both seniors at the university, were reported missing on Saturday evening under suspicious circumstances. They were eventually located at a residence approximately four miles from campus and were rescued by a SWAT team on Sunday evening. Nicholas Kollias testified Thursday about the abduction that he and University of Rochester classmate, Ani Okeke Ewo, experienced in December 2015. Strickland faces the most serious charges, including kidnapping and gang assault. Nicholas and his fellow teammate and fraternity brother Ani Okeke Ewo are hanging out when Ani gets messaged on social media. "Even a university as generally safe as ours can be subject to these type of terrible events," Seligman said, calling the matter "an isolated and unusual set of circumstances,""I urge everyone in our community to be smart about the choices that you make, and to be diligent about your safety and the safety of those around you. Kollias and Ewo were lured to the Harvest Street home by two women they did not know late one Friday night. "They didn't want to go in my apartment and they suggested that we go over to their place," said Nicholas. Terms of Use | He also had shards of glass embedded in his eardrum when a light bulb was smashed on his head. This provider has 31 years of experience and is affiliated with Leesburg Regional Medical Center. As Christine and I got ready for this trial, it was harder to figure out what we weren't going to use than it was to figure out what we were going to use. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo, both University of Rochester football players from Illinois, were lured to a home for what they thought was a Saturday night house party. The captors put Ani in the bedroom. Seminole Obituaries | Local Obits for Seminole, FL - Legacy.com Jurors were shown a cellphone video that captured a portion of the ordeal. Alcaraz-Ubilies is accused of kidnapping, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Leah Gigliotti:Two counts of first-degree gang assault. [1] [2] [3] Nikolaos Kollias took part in the 1896-1897 Greek Macedonian rebellion and enlisted in the Hellenic Army to serve in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. Cancela en cualquier momento. Then the ones who lured the football players into the sadistic trap give up even more. "They had nicknames. The network's E:60 show at 9 a.m. Sunday will feature an interview with Nicholas Kollias, one of the two Yellowjackets who was kidnapped and tortured for 40 hours in 2015. apparently were victims of mistaken identity, Mistaken identity may have led abductors to UR students, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo, both University of Rochester football players from Illinois, were lured to a home for what they thought was a Saturday night house party. "I'm not going to close my eyes. This drug heist made it look like Smith and some associates were robbed of a large quantity of weed at Ewos apartment while he was away. Two University of Rochester Students Rescued Following Abduction - People "At this point, my body was broken down and I didn't know how much longer I could go on," he said. Julie Herrod When Was She Born, Career, Wheres She Today? I didnt want to die and give in to these people, he stated to the media. Her name is Samantha Hughes. It's now Sunday morning at 22 Harvest Street, more than 30 hours in. The ringleader, Lydell Strickland, played a starring role in that video. Kollias went into detail about the assault to one media outlet and stated that he thought it would be the end of his life, but he was going to go out fighting. Survivor Story 5 - Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo. Why don't you have the two girls come over to my apartment and we can hang out with them there.' We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 2 NY Students Who Were Abducted, Held Hostage Found By Authorities Lydell Strickland, who was found guilty of more than two dozen charges, including kidnapping, assault, gang assault and sexual abuse, was sentenced to 155 years to life in prison. But there was one key piece of evidence the jurors would see. Im not going to close my eyes. "It was dark out and from the outside it seemed like a decent house," said Nicholas. Smith was also charged and was given a 13-year sentence for the robbery that triggered the later events while the two ladies who were used as bait were given over 12 years each for their part in luring the men to the house. Police: 2 New York college students abducted, held hostage Nicholas says there's more to the story, and he's holding the University of Rochester responsible. Both students, but especially Nicholas, are in bad shape. She had to go to work, so she said 'Can I meet up with you tomorrow and we can finish this,'" said Deputy Chief Scott Peters. Then Rochester Deputy Chief Scott Peters puts together a plan with the SWAT commander. University of Rochester abduction case: Student describes torture They'd take our wallet, everything from me, my keys, my phone, my wallet.". Two University of Rochester students abducted before being freed by

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nicholas kollias and ani okeke ewo