Florida Man Tries Online Dating and Gets Throat Slashed, Thrown Off Bridge

A Florida man dodged a grisly encounter that just proved that world of online dating is a scary place. According to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, this man decided to take a gamble on a seemingly innocent social media invite from a certain Natalie Fonseca. The plan? Dinner at her place. How could this possibly go wrong, right? Well, buckle up, because it took a sharp left turn from there.

As the evening unfolded, the victim found himself face-to-face with Fonseca's supposed "uncle," Nafis Reynolds. Now, I'm not sure about your family gatherings, but mine typically don't involve armed robbery and throat-cutting. These two smooth talkers managed to convince our man to take a little joyride.

But the joyride was anything but joyful. As the wheels turned, Fonseca and Reynolds orchestrated a robbery, taking the poor guy's kicks, cash, phone, and even his ride. That wasn't enough for them, though. In a gruesome turn of events, they decided to give him a makeover by repeatedly slashing his throat. And if that's not chilling enough, they thought it'd be fun to toss him off a bridge into the Escambia River!

If you're thinking that's the end of the story, you'd be wrong. This man didn't come to play the victim. Miraculously, he survived the fall and those ghastly throat cuts. He swam to shore and managed to flag down a deputy, who was probably just as shocked as you and me.

Now, Natalie Fonseca and Nafis Reynolds aren't winning any awards for their hospitality. They've earned themselves a stay in the county slammer where mosters like this belong. They got slapped with charges that read like a criminal's check list... Attempted murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

As far as Florida stories go, this one takes the cake. It's a stark reminder to be a bit more cautious when accepting online dating dinner invitations from strangers on social media.

The lead up to a first date can be exciting, but stressful so if you want it to be a success, consider this your first date survival guide and the top 5 places to avoid on a first date in Florida.

Embarking on a first date in Southwest Florida is like venturing into the wild jungles of the dating world. You never know what strange creatures you'll encounter or what obstacles you'll face. Not to mention how many times you'll wish you had a machete to cut through the awkwardness. I have a few friends who are actively dating here in Fort Myers and let's just say, I'm glad I'm taking a break.

There are many layers to the first date. What do I wear? How much do I reveal about myself? Do I walk them to the door at the end of the night? A kiss goodnight? You may not even get that far if you don't pick a good place for the first date to go down. In fact, searches for "first date ideas" have risen by 80% in Florida, so it's a question on many people's minds.

Greetings card marketplace, thortful, polled 2,000 people about their idea of the worst place for a first date. Here are some places you might want to avoid.

You'll probably be able to tell what someone is like under stress and in a tough situation, but the idea of not being able to escape from someone you don't know very well doesn't sound fun. 25% of respondents said this would be their worst idea of a first date.

This actually sounds terrible. Coming in the #2 spot, 27% of people said this is the worst. I can't imagine being invited to watch someone play a sport or run a marathon. Maybe to support them after a relationship starts, but as a first date? No thank you. 

Overall, climbing or bouldering made it to the number three spot of places to avoid on a first date. Not that we have many places to do that outdoors here in Florida, 27% of men voted it as their worst idea for a first date. 

Sounds like a more casual stroll is preferred over a long, sweaty hike. In fact, 40% of those polled said a nice walk would be great! And here, a walk on the beach would make for a great setting.

More like Kara-no-ke. Could be a place to see a real personality come through and find out if they're fun and outgoing or more shy and reserved, but 20% said it's a no-go.