WWE star Sonya Deville, real name Daria Berenato, was recently arrested in New Jersey.
As reported by TMZ, the former authority figure was arrested on February 19th in Atlantic City, NJ after a valet found a gun in her car.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful shed more light on the situation on social media, writing:
“Fightful has learned Sonya Deville was arrested in New Jersey recently for having a firearm in her vehicle. She has a permit in Florida, but it wasn’t valid in NJ. She’s in the process of getting it thrown out, and we’re told she started carrying after the home invasion.
“Sources indicated that Sonya was celebrating with her fiancée, and the gun was in their vehicle as it was being valeted. WWE sources indicated there was no heat on Sonya Deville, as they understand why she would want to protect herself following the stalker/home invasion situation. We’re told that following that situation, Sonya actually got help from a judge in expediting her permit in Florida to protect herself.”
Sources indicated that Sonya was celebrating with her fiancee, and the gun was in their vehicle as it was being valeted.
WWE sources indicated there was no heat on Sonya Deville, as they understand why she would want to protect herself following the stalker/home invasion… https://t.co/j9hoFWigLc
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) March 1, 2023
The home invasion in question took place on August 16th of 2020. Mandy Rose was staying with Deville at the time, and the two were woken up when Deville’s security system alerted them to an intruder equipped with rope and other utilities that would assist in a kidnapping.
Thankfully, both women were able to flee the scene in a car and call the police who arrived at the home to find the perpetrator still present awaiting his victim. Law enforcement arrested him on charges of Aggravated Stalking, Armed Burglary of a Dwelling, Attempted Armed Kidnapping, and Criminal Mischief.
Upon his arrest, it was discovered that the individual was the same who had been pestering Deville on social media for several years with proposals of marriage as well as other messages of a romantic, personal and threatening nature.
Following the harrowing incident, Deville took time away from WWE television to deal with the matter personally and emotionally, falling in a Loser Leaves WWE Match at SummerSlam to best friend Rose.
WWE’s Sonya Deville Was Afraid To Return Home After Kidnapping Attempt
Speaking on an April 2022 episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Sonya Deville opened up about her experience after her home was invaded by a would-be kidnapper, saying that nothing can prepare a person for something like that and that she was afraid to drive in her own neighborhood after such a violation.
“It’s been a crazy ride and you never know something like that is gonna happen until it happens.
“And you don’t know how you’re gonna feel about something like that happening until it happens. I’ll just say, the day of, I was like, ‘Oh, everything’s fine. I’m gonna go sleep in my house tonight.’ And then by the time nightfall came I was – like, couldn’t even drive to the neighborhood. So, it’s crazy.” (h/t WrestlingInc)