Elderly Florida couple held hostage by neighbor, Leonard Benitez, who demanded $50,000 ransom – The Rosen family let him in when he asked to borrow SALT
Leonard Benitez pretended to borrow a cup of salt from his elderly neighbors Louis and Irene Rosen before terrorizing them
Benitez, 45, pressed the 99-year-old Louis and his 70-year-old wife for $50,000, while holding them hostage in their Tamarac, Florida, home
Leonard Benitez pretended asked to borrow a cup of salt from the Rosens in their Tamarac, Florida, home July 21
He held the couple hostage and pressed the 99-year-old and his 70-year-old wife for $50,000
Benitez reportedly pistol whipped Louis in the head with his gun
His wife had managed to escape the home and alert authorities but had to leave her husband temporarily behind
Arrested and charged, Sunday, he is held without bond in jail
Benitez faces charges of home invasion, battery, kidnapping and false imprisonment
Leonard Benitez pretended to borrow a cup of salt from his elderly neighbors Louis and Irene Rosen before he pressed the 99-year-old and his wife for $50,000, while holding them hostage in their Tamarac, Florida, home on Friday
Although his retired neighbors shared almost 180 years between them it did not deter Leonard Benitez from kidnapping and terrorizing them for ransom money.
Benitez, 45, asked to borrow a cup of salt from Louis and Irene Rosen in their Tamarac, Florida, home before he pressed the 99-year-old and his wife Irene, 70, for ransom on Friday
The help seeking neighbor has been charged on Sunday with holding his elderly neighbors hostage in Florida after he pulled out a gun and knife and kept Rosens captive.
‘I was scared to death,’ Irene Rosen said to ABC 10.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Gina Carter,Benitez pistol whipped Louis in the head with his gun, leaving him withe severe lacerations.
His wife had managed to escape the home and alert authorities but had to leave her husband temporarily behind so she could get help. 
Irene Rosen [sitting right of husband louis], did managed to elude her captor and escape the home to alert authorities but had to leave her husband temporarily behind so she could get help.
‘I am not a gun person. I’ve never been around guns,’ Irene Mrs Rosen said.
Benitez fled the scene, running to a nearby house where he was staying supposedly with family. A swat team was finally able to take him into custody.
Louis Rosen was taken to North Broward Health, where he required staples in the back of his head to stitch up lacerations and cuts from the Benitez assault.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Benitez pistol whipped the home owner in the head. Louis Rosen would need staples in the back of his head for the injury
EMTs transport 99-year-old Louis Rosen to hospital for treatment
Benitez was arrested by deputies at a nearby house. He was charged Sunday with kidnapping and assault
‘I try to think of the positive and say, “What an adventure we had,” an adventure I could have done without,’ Mrs Rosen added.
Benitez was arrested on home invasion, battery, kidnapping and false imprisonment charges. He is being held without bond in jail.
On Sunday a judge instructed the alleged kidnapper to stay away from the Rosen family.
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