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According to Stamford Police, the incident began when the victim flagged down a motorist on Thursday, Aug. 22 and told the driver that she had escaped from a house where she was being held against her will, said Lt. Michael Noto.
The victim told officers that she had come to Connecticut from Florida to visit a former boyfriend, Simon Betser, 39, of Stamford.
Once she arrived in the area, Betser’s friend Ronald Kuzlik, 33, of Stamford, picked her up and drove her to the residence. After arriving at Betser's home, police said a two-day ordeal began where she was repeatedly assaulted, threatened, not allowed to leave the residence and not allowed to even use the bathroom without being guarded by Kuzlik, Noto said.
Late in the evening on Aug. 22, the victim, after suffering more abuse was able to escape the residence and flag down the passing motorist who then called the police.
On Friday, Aug. 23, the Stamford Police Department Uniform Division along with the Stamford Police Department Special Victim’s Unit responded to the home to secure the crime scene while awaiting a search warrant, Noto said.
"It was at this time the suspect, Simon Betser, exited the home with a self-described attacked dog and sat in his driveway speaking to officers in Russian and refusing to cooperate with the investigation until such time as a search warrant was produced," said Noto.
A search warrant was obtained and the crime scene was processed. Arrest warrants were also completed and Betser and Kuzlik were arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 3 without incident, Noto said.
Betser was charged with cruelty to persons, assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful restraint, carrying a dangerous weapon, and larceny. He is being held on $500,000 bond.
Kuzlik was charged with cruelty to persons, unlawful restraint, and reckless endangerment. He is being held on $200,000 bond.
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