PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A Treasure Island man kept his elderly wife a prisoner inside her own home for three days while also severely beating her until officers were able to rescue her on Monday, according to police.
- Kenneth Wozny, 76, faces multiple charges
- Victim able to call for help when Wozny not looking
- Wozny would not allow officers to check on victim, challenged them to shoot him
- More Pinellas County stories
“He wouldn’t let her call anyone, he wouldn’t give her the keys, he wouldn’t let her leave,” said Detective Dan Savarese. “He was giving her water and very small amounts of food and the family could not get a hold of her.”
Kenneth Wozny, 76, was arrested and charged with domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, tampering with a witness, resisting an officer and battery on a person older than 65 years of age.
Kenneth Wozny. (Courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)
Treasure Island Police said at one point, when Wozny wasn’t looking, the woman was able to call a friend for help. That friend then called 911 and officers showed up at the home, located at 110 Sun Isle Circle, on Monday morning to do a welfare check.
Savarese said Wozny angrily came out of the home, told officers to get off his property and would not allow them to check on his wife. The officers then forced their way into the home, believing the victim was in danger.
“He came out again and was angry and made statements to the effect of ‘you’ll have to shoot me’, ‘shoot me’. He said that a bunch of times,” said Savarese. “He started resisting us and did fight with us a little bit. Tried to push us down the steps and we were able to get him under control.”
Savarese said when officers found the victim inside, they were shocked by her condition.
“Severely battered. She had a lot of bruising,” he said. “Later found out she had some fractures to her spine and pelvis. She was in pretty bad shape.”
Police said the woman was very grateful that officers had rescued her.
“For someone her age, she put up with a lot,” Savarese said. “And she survived.”
Wozny’s being held in the Pinellas County Jail without a bond.