A California man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to a horrific kidnapping and burglary incident that took place earlier this year in Dorchester County, South Carolina. The case has shocked the Summerville community due to its violent nature and the age of the victim, an 89-year-old woman.
Plea Hearing and Sentencing
At a plea hearing held on Monday, Enver Zueros, 34, admitted to charges of kidnapping and first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to:
30 years for kidnapping (with credit for 166 days already served)
20 years for burglary in the first degree
These sentences will run consecutively, meaning Zueros will serve a total of 50 years behind bars.
The sentencing was handed down by Judge Heath Taylor, according to the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Details of the March 9 Incident
On the morning of March 9, Zueros went to the home of an elderly woman in Summerville. The situation quickly escalated into a terrifying ordeal:
He sprayed her with bear spray, leaving her disoriented and in pain
Zueros then tied her to a kitchen chair, using duct tape and a dog leash to restrain her
He eventually forced the woman into her own car, hiding her under the backseat floorboard
He left the home with her inside the car, prompting an immediate multi-agency search
The Summerville Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, and the FBI launched a coordinated effort to find the woman. She was later discovered restrained with a plastic bag over her head, but thankfully alive. Zueros was arrested the following day in Aiken County.
Zueros Expresses Remorse in Court
In a tearful statement during the hearing, Zueros expressed deep regret for his actions, directly addressing the victim and the town of Summerville.
“I’m profoundly sorry for targeting you… I can only imagine what you’ve had to endure these last five months, and I’m heartbroken that I caused that,” Zueros said.
He also acknowledged the emotional pain he inflicted on the community:
“To the town of Summerville, I hit rock bottom, and I brought you along with me… I’m not that monster they paint me out to be. I’m just a broken person.”
Defense Cites Troubled Past
Zueros’ attorney, Pierce Wehman, told the court that his client had endured emotional abuse during his childhood, which led to long-term mental health struggles.
“He knows that he is pleading 15 to life… but this is what he wanted,” Wehman said. “He wanted to give whatever closure he could.”
Despite this background, prosecutors stressed the violent and disturbing nature of the crime, which left the elderly victim traumatised and the community shaken.
Enver Zueros’ 50-year prison sentence brings closure to a disturbing case that stunned the town of Summerville and beyond. While Zueros expressed deep remorse and acknowledged the pain he caused, the brutal details of his actions have left a lasting impact. His case serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, and of the swift action taken by law enforcement to bring justice.
