Detectives say a woman invited the victim to her unit and a partner rushed in with an ax as the meeting began.
ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman and man from Orlando were arrested Wednesday after deputies said they set up a late-night Instagram meeting that ended with the visitor being struck with an ax and robbed inside an apartment off East Colonial Drive early Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Authorities said the case highlights how a private meetup arranged through direct messages turned violent and moved fast. The Sheriff’s Office said the suspects fled with the victim’s car and personal items before patrol units arrived, sparking an overnight search that continued into the morning. Investigators are treating the episode as a planned robbery that used social media to select a target, an approach deputies say they have seen before around large apartment communities. The arrest reports outline a tight timeframe, with the call arriving not long after midnight and arrests following the next day as detectives built probable cause.
Orange County deputies identified the suspects as Anne Aksell, 29, and Nicholas Lavallee, 20. Investigators allege Aksell messaged the victim on Instagram and invited him over. Once inside, a second person entered with an ax and a gun was displayed as the pair demanded property, deputies said. The victim, who asked not to be fully identified publicly, described the moment as “absolutely terrifying” and said he bolted when he could and found help. First responders treated him for cuts and bruises at the scene; the Sheriff’s Office did not release a hospital name or further medical condition. Detectives recovered pieces of evidence from the apartment and began tracking the victim’s vehicle using nearby cameras.
Booking records show Aksell faces robbery with a firearm, grand theft and aggravated battery. Lavallee faces robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Deputies said the call came from an apartment complex along East Colonial Drive in Orlando. They are analyzing digital records, including the Instagram account used to coordinate the meeting, and reviewing parking-lot footage from the complex and businesses along the corridor. It was not immediately clear whether the firearm was loaded or fired during the struggle. The Sheriff’s Office did not announce any other suspects.
The complex sits in a busy commercial stretch east of downtown where deputies routinely field calls for thefts and disturbances linked to holiday gatherings. Investigators said social media setups have spiked in recent years, with meetings arranged briefly and locations chosen at the last minute. In Tuesday’s case, deputies believe the suspects selected a unit they could access without attracting attention, and used the apartment’s breezeway to limit outside witnesses. Neighbors reported hearing raised voices and a door slam close to midnight, followed by sirens.
Both suspects were booked into the Orange County Jail after interviews with detectives. Prosecutors with the State Attorney’s Office will review the arrest affidavits and decide on formal charges in the coming days. Initial appearances typically happen within 24 hours of booking; bond amounts and no-contact orders, if any, were not immediately posted. Detectives plan to complete evidence processing, including prints and DNA swabs from the ax and door handles, and to obtain any additional phone records tied to the meeting. Officials said they will release more information after charging decisions and court scheduling are finalized next week.
As of Friday morning, deputies said the victim’s car had been located and towed for processing, while teams continued to interview residents and collect video. The next major update is expected once prosecutors file charging documents and a judge sets hearing dates.
Author note: Last updated January 2, 2026.