Sonya Deville opens up on trauma suffered after attempted kidnapping

[Chris]

In a new interview, WWE wrestler Sonya Deville opened up about her mental well-being and recovery following a 2020 attempted kidnapping at her home.

Talking on Maria Menounos' podcast, Deville (Daria Berenato) said she is still dealing with trauma from the August 2020 incident where Phillip Thomas broke into her home with a knife, zip ties, and duct tape following threatening messages on social media.

He was sentenced to 15 years in jail and 15 years of probation after the judge accepted a plea agreement in which Thomas pleaded guilty to the charges, which include attempted kidnapping, aggravated stalking, and armed burglary.

“That night after the incident, I thought I was gonna go back into the house and sleep there, because I was stubborn and I was in shock, and I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know left from right at that point, and then the sun goes down, and I'm uncontrollably shaking, and I'm in a hotel room under an alias name because I'm so paranoid that even though he's arrested, he's somehow gonna find me, and I have the dresser pushed up against the door.”

She later said the full effect of the incident didn't hit her initially and she was "living in fight or flight mode for months, maybe years.” She talked to her father at one point about building a home with a moat, 24/7 security and five guard dogs.

In March of this year, she was arrested on a firearm charge in New Jersey after a gun was found in her glove box by a valet. She began carrying a gun following the incident and it was registered in Florida.

After taking time off after SummerSlam 2020, she returned to WWE in January 2021 as an authority figure before eventually returning to the ring.

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/wwes-sonya-deville-was-living-in-fight-or-flight-mode-after-attempted-kidnapping

 

[Y2Jayne]

I'm surprised and disappointed they haven't pushed her to a title yet.

 

[Storm Trooper]

I'm surprised and disappointed they haven't pushed her to a title yet.

This. At the very least Karen and the former Manager NEED to win the Tag Titles soon. She's a good all around character both in-ring and on the mic.

 

[Daddy Dom]

Should been women's champion by now

 

[Sabretooth]

It was a crazy story. Thank god nothing bad happened

 

[Cwalker]

Can’t believe it’s been 3 years since this happened.

I don’t blame her for having PTSD; any body would.