A 36-year-old man faces a potential life sentence after being found guilty of kidnapping and assault in connection with a violent crime spree in 2023 that terrorized his wife and their four children across multiple Florida counties. Antonio Caban was convicted for the harrowing ordeal that concluded with the family’s rescue by quick-acting Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Caban’s sentencing is scheduled for July 7 in Collier County Circuit Court, where he could receive up to life in prison for his actions.
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“This case is a stark reminder of the dangers victims of domestic violence can face,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “I commend the victim for her courage and quick thinking in the face of great danger. I also want to thank our deputies and partnering agencies for their rapid, coordinated response that brought this family to safety and helped bring a violent offender to justice.”
The terrifying day-long ordeal began on January 3, 2023, in LaBelle. Caban seized control of his wife’s car, assaulting her by hitting and biting her in the face, and threatening his children. The family had recently sought refuge in Florida after fleeing years of alleged abuse by Caban in their home country of Puerto Rico.
For several hours, Caban drove his family across various counties, subjecting them to threats of violence and at one point striking his wife with a tire iron. Desperate to evade detection, he buried her phone in a citrus field. He then chillingly informed her of his intent to purchase a shovel from a home improvement store to kill and bury them all.
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With remarkable courage and quick thinking, Caban’s wife tricked him into taking her to a women’s shelter in Immokalee. Once inside, she immediately alerted staff, prompting Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies to respond immediately. The deputies swiftly rescued the family and took Caban into custody, ending the terrifying ordeal.
The investigation that led to Caban’s conviction was an effort spearheaded by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. They received support from deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
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