MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. – A woman in California’s central coast is on the road to recovery after surviving a brutal attack stemming from an online obsession. The incident, which took place on November 25 around 10 p.m., involved the woman being stabbed and strangled by a man she had met on a video game platform.
The suspect, 25-year-old Devin Vanderhoff, reportedly traveled from British Columbia, Canada, to Monterey County to stalk the woman. Accompanied by an alleged accomplice, identified as Darius Whyte, Vanderhoef posed as a delivery driver carrying a package when he knocked on the woman’s door.
When the woman’s boyfriend answered the door, Vanderhoff attacked him, leading the woman to defend her partner. During the struggle, the suspect proceeded to stab and strangle the woman. Fortunately, despite sustaining injuries ranging from minor to critical, all parties involved survived the ordeal.
Authorities discovered a box dropped by Vanderhoef during the attack, which contained a pair of handcuffs, multiple knives, and duct tape. Sheriff’s Commander Andres Rosas expressed relief that the situation did not escalate further, emphasizing the potentially grave intentions behind these items.
Following the incident, Whyte was apprehended at the San Jose Airport before attempting to leave for Canada. Vanderhoef, currently held on $4.15 million bail, faces charges of attempted murder and other offenses. In light of this harrowing event, authorities urge caution when interacting with individuals online and advise against divulging personal information too freely.