Oh, here, have a seat right here. Have a seat right here. Got a uh Spanish-speaking male uh lacerations to the throat and uh Looks like he was punched in the face, so probably head injuries. Just 8 hours ago, 25-year-old Saul Lopez was having dinner at this house on Oak Forest Drive. He's there with a woman he recently met online. To him, it's just a casual Saturday. But, he has no idea that within minutes he'll be fighting for his last breath. He's inside a silver Honda Odyssey with a woman who goes by Crazy and an unknown male. It's calm until it isn't. Suddenly, the vibe shifts. Repeatedly beaten and stabbed, Saul is left disoriented, but the couple isn't finished. They drive him to a bridge, beat him some more, and toss him 50 ft into the Escambia River. Believing they had committed the perfect crime, the two assailants move on to their next victim. However, there was one small detail they didn't account for. Saul Lopez refused to die. >> [music] >> October 8th, 2023, Pensacola, Florida. At a Cumberland Farms near Scenic Highway in Escambia County, Sheriff's Deputy starts his shift with a cup of coffee. He looks out toward the intersection and sees a man stumbling across the roadway. The man is barefoot, soaked in blood, his face is bruised, swollen, and barely recognizable. What's that? You okay? Oh, here, have a seat right here. Have a seat right here. Car 5 13. What happened? Can I get EMS 51 to meet at the um Tom Thumb at Dunnick Howey and 9-Mile Road? What's How How How old are you? How old? You. You. When the deputy made contact, it was clear communication would be challenging. Aside from the language barrier, Saul had lost a significant amount of blood and was severely dehydrated. His jaw was badly bruised, and his face so swollen that forming words was painful. Disoriented and confused, this was someone whose body was actively shutting down while his mind was still fighting to survive. I'm going to have to get Yep. That's an aggravated battery. I'm going to have to get uh Ramirez here. Okay. Hey. Some friends rode me a car last night. Put makeup and kill me stole my shoes and phone in the car. So he got carjacked. Did you take a screenshot of that? And this is the view. I don't know them for them. And I know them. Try to ask him just yes or no questions. Where did you throw him? The bridge. Yeah, up there. So um he's got lacerations to his throat. He's not bleeding right now. Uh His ears, the back of his head. He may have some broken ribs, his face. Yeah. Guy come walking from across the street right here. He's got like probably like four, five lacerations, deep lacerations to his throat. His face is all bruised and broke up. He doesn't speak any English at all. Okay. We're going to go ahead and head up there before his airway starts to crash. This piece cut pretty deep right there. >> Okay, I'm sorry. Saul was rushed to a nearby hospital as a trauma alert. Upon arrival, he was taken straight into emergency surgery. Because of the severity of his injuries and the language barrier, detectives couldn't interview him right away. Police records show that Saul could not identify his attackers by their real names, so they only knew the basics. Assaulted by two people, thrown from a bridge, and vehicle had been stolen. But even with just those facts, one thing was clear. This was extreme violence. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said he believed the assault was not random. He described it as cold, calculated, and called Saul's survival miraculous. It appears as if they knew what they were going to do. In fact, I think they tell him what they were going to do. So much so that they they they take not only his money, they take his his his cell phone. Then they ultimately take his shoes. So so it it seems like they took everything that they could, including trying to take his life, which ended up being an attempted murder, a cold and calculated attempted murder. >> [music] >> Deputies immediately began searching for Saul's stolen Honda Odyssey. They didn't have to look far. A VIN check revealed the van had been found burned earlier that same morning, roughly 20 miles south of where Saul flagged down the deputy. That detail told investigators something important. This wasn't just about hurting Saul. It was about erasing him. The next day, Detective Martinez finally interviewed Saul at the hospital. That's when the story started to come into focus. Saul explained that about a week earlier he had received a Facebook friend request from an unknown woman, later identified as Natalie Fonseca. Online, she referred to herself as Crazy Funsecca. From Saul's perspective, nothing about this felt strange. He accepted the request and they started messaging. It seemed normal to him. Detective Martinez later broke it down for the court. Or in Tennessee. I ain't going to yell. You may. Yeah, but can you state your name and spell your last name for the record? Miguel Martinez Jr. M A R T I N E Z Jr. Mr. Martinez, where are you employed? With the Hispanic Guy Sheriff's Office. And what capacity? I'm an investigator of major crimes. And back in October of 2023, were you involved in the case involving Matthew Easterling and Natalie Funsecca? Yes, I did. Can you please explain to the court how you became involved in the investigation and what you did as a part of the investigation? Yes. Um, I got assigned the case on October 9th. Uh, speaking with the only Spanish speaking investigator of major crimes. Um, I reviewed the reports from the initial deputy and also the deputy who had spoke with the victim at the hospital. Um, I wanted to get first hand perspective from the victim. So, um, I went up to Sacred Heart. Uh, he was still in the hospital. I spoke to him there. Uh, got some more details. He told me that he had met a female uh, who had sent a friend request on Facebook. On October the 6th, that female, he picked her up at the Jackson Square and she was hungry and wanted some food. Uh, asked for a pizza or some McDonald's and said instead of that, can I get you some tacos? And she agreed to get some tacos. Uh, he met with her, ate the tacos, took her to her house. Uh, I think that was that day. The The day, October 7th, Natalie contacted again and asked to see him. Saul said he was at work, but agreed to stop by later that evening after cashing his paycheck. When he arrived at her house, Natalie said she needed to pick up her cat from an unknown location. Saul offered to drive, but she insisted on driving herself, telling him he didn't know where they were going. It seemed like a simple request, but it was actually a compliance test. When Natalie insisted on driving, she was taking control of the environment. Saul thought he was just being a gentleman, but to a predator, he was signaling that he would not offer any resistance. They made the trip and returned to the house without incident. Natalie went inside with the cat while Saul waited in the van. Minutes later, she emerged, but this time she wasn't alone. Next to her was a man later identified as 31-year-old Nafiss Reynolds. They both climbed in, and at some point Nafiss produced a firearm. Saul said he didn't think much of it at first, but that would soon change. Natalie, again in the driver's seat, told him they were going to a cookout at her uncle's house, so they drove together. Once they were there, they had some drinks, they had some hamburgers. Uh but then one of them wanted to leave. Uh and then they said, "Okay." So, they went back. At that time, he told him he again the black male he had and with the pistol in his hands. Um Based on my investigation, um they did this. Um From there, they drove him to the the female told him the spokesman had told him that this was the night that he was going to die. They were going to drive him somewhere, um take everything from him, and leave him there. So, he said they drove for a while, and they came to a bridge, and they got him out. Um the male and the female uh good Samaritan Zamora and then felt a knife on his throat and they slashed his gut one end to the other. Um after doing that, they picked him up and threw him over a bridge. Uh he fell in the water and she was Saul explained that after he hit the water, he felt a stinging sensation along his neck from the wounds, but was desperate to stay afloat. He swam to a small patch of land and waited in the darkness, exhausted and bleeding. At first light, he managed to flag down a passing boat. They brought him to shore and from there, Saul summoned the last of his strength to walk for help. Eventually, he reached a convenience store near Scenic Highway where a sheriff's deputy happened to be grabbing coffee before his shift. That coincidence saved Saul's life. Detective Martinez testified that he later spoke with Saul again and asked whether he could identify the house where the woman lived. I was able to talk to him and ask him for a description of who he knew had this house but this female uh he was able to utilize Google Earth and from the store where he had seen her drive to the neighborhood which ended up after leaving the hospital with his directions, I was able to come across the address which is Old Forest Drive. I returned back to the office and looked to see if there was any calls for service at that address. There was a call service in September before the same year. Um there was a robbery service. There was two suspect victim um that stabbed each other. The victim in this case was Mr. Reynolds and the suspect was his brother Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. Uh the witness was Natalie Fonseca. I was able to take screenshots uh of the body cam footage from the deputy that was responding to that scene. And based on the description that was given by the victim at the hospital, I was able to see that Mr. Reynolds and Natalie Fonseca were my suspects. Um followed up to try to get some video from the store. Uh I was able to obtain video from October the 6th uh where the victim and Mr. Fonseca went to the store to buy the drinks after he had bought the tacos. I also was able to obtain the video from October the 7th where Mr. Fonseca was driving the van. There was a male passenger in the van, but from the video you can see that based on what the victim had told me he was wearing that night, uh a white shirt, and you can see he had his hat. By chance, while Detective Martinez and his partner were reviewing surveillance video, Natalie Fonseca and Nephis Reynolds walked into the same store. Investigators waited for them to leave and followed them. Knowing there were two entrances to the subdivision, Detective Martinez positioned himself and recorded both as they entered a house on Oak Forest Drive. That surveillance gave them the probable cause they needed. A judge signed warrants for the carjacking and robbery of Saul Lopez, and on October 23rd, both were detained. But the case got darker during the interview. When Detective Martinez pressed Natalie, she accidentally revealed that this wasn't a one-time event. While interviewing um Ms. Fonseca, I asked her if this is about the Mexican who hit from the store, and she confirmed started to tell me about the details us picking him up at the Circle K, taking him to the house, and parking. She went in the house, and you know, by the time she came out, everything had had already happened, and he was gone. And I was a little confused, and I was like, "Well, that's not you know, the next guy at the store I'm talking about. I'm talking about the one that had his throat cut." And then she just sat back in her chair like, "Oh." I said, "So, he didn't die?" So, then at that point, it wasn't clear to you that Ms. Fonseca was actually talking about the victim? [clears throat] Yes. Detective Martinez realized she was confusing Saul with another victim. Just 9 days after leaving Saul for dead, Natalie and Nafiss ran the same play again, luring a second Spanish-speaking man to that Oak Forest house and robbing him at gunpoint. Ultimately, it was the warrant for Saul's case that finally put them in handcuffs. But prosecutors still had one major concern. The defense could argue that Saul's initial identification of the suspects happened in a hospital bed while he was traumatized and medicated. Therefore, it could be unreliable. So, in December, weeks after the suspects were locked up, detectives brought Saul back in. They needed him to look at a photo lineup and to put a face to the nightmare once and for all. Saul didn't hesitate. He easily picked out Natalie Fonseca, the woman who lured him, the woman he referred to as a friend. But he wasn't done. He still had to identify the man holding the gun, who was considered the primary enforcer. Okay. All right, thank you. Okay. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. >> With that ID locked in, the state attorney had everything needed to upgrade the charges to attempted first-degree murder, putting life sentences on the table. Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty, but the evidence against them was overwhelming. Facing the possibility of life in prison if convicted, both Natalie Fonseca and Nafiss Reynolds decided it was in their best interests to enter no contest pleas. The September 2025 plea deal reduced charges to attempted second-degree murder, carjacking, and kidnapping with a max prison term of 30 years. Before the judge handed down the sentences, she gave them one last opportunity to speak, a moment to show remorse, take accountability, or ask for leniency. Natalie, who was essentially the bait in a violent honey trap, went first. There are no words for what both victims and myself have experienced. Even words tremble with me with so much unsaid. I can never get down on paper the mental, emotional, and physical abuse that I have developed from being in a relationship with Mr. Reynolds since July 9th, 2015. I felt the need to protect someone who created trauma within me and took advantage of my vulnerability. This phase in my life, where my freedom where my freedom was stolen has taught me about life and most importantly about myself. Not everyone has good intentions in life. Mr. Reynolds persuaded my mental rainbows and unicorns to get me out of my mother's house at the age of 16. Where I was once secure enjoying life as a teen, I thought love was what I but love only became a mental illness. I became fragile, confused, addicted, even suicidal. Every visible scar on my body came from Mr. Reynolds. Good afternoon, Miss Fantasia. Do you remember me? I do. Okay. You remember telling us just a minute ago that you gave two depositions in this case? They were They were with me, weren't they? Right. Do you remember the very first question that you asked when Mr. Longmire and myself walked in the room? I do. What was that question? What would my sentence look like? If I suggested to you that you said, "Mr. Longmire, what am I going to get for talking today?" Would you agree that's the truth? Did you hear your lawyer several times ask if you were taking responsibility for your conduct today? Of course. Okay. >> [clears throat] >> But what if I suggested to you that in your in your letter that you read to this to the judge, you repeatedly deflected towards Mr. Reynolds. Would you agree with that? I don't agree. Okay. Very I certainly appreciate that. >> [clears throat] >> Do you hear the the the the victim in this case, the one that took the the stand there and testified with an interpreter here in Pensacola, when I said, "Was one of these people the leader? Was one of these people worse? He said, "No, they were they were both similarly, you know, this is situated." Did you hear him Okay. Now, is it your position that the lion's share of the fault goes to Mr. Reynolds? Because listening to you read that letter makes me think that's what you're trying to say. I took accountability for my own actions. Okay, what were your actions? I could have spoke up when I had the chance, but I didn't. Well, I When you say the chance is to speak up and tell the truth, are you referring to the two times Mr. Bondurant came out to the jail to approach you? No, I didn't tell him about the incident when it was occurring. Will you acknowledge that you were not fully truthful in either of the two times Mr. Bondurant and I came out to see you? I was truthful. Okay, that's all right, that's all right. Mr. Bondurant? So, it's kind of echoing in here. And so, what I was asking you, you and your attorney come out to see you, correct? And when I did, on both of those occasions, certainly the last occasion, did I not say to you that Ms. Fonseca, I don't believe that you were telling me the complete truth. Did I tell you that? You did say that. Did I further tell you that I felt like you were minimizing your role in the situation? You did say that. All right. And now, you heard me ask Investigator Martinez if I would have seen you and Mr. Reynolds at the store. Did you hear me ask him about that? I did. And so, when you were at the store with Mr. Reynolds, you didn't try to run or get help at any point, did you? I did not. And then, on the night where Mr. had his throat sliced and thrown off of the bridge, you didn't do anything to help Mr. Did you? I did not. Call 911 on that night? I did. And then, when you all left from throwing him off of the bridge, telling him that that was going to be his last night on earth. Did you go with Mr. Reynolds out to where that new area to construct that home was? Did you go with Mr. Reynolds then? Being forced into this whole situation, I did go. Okay, so that's your position. You were forced into it, but after the van was set on fire, did you also leave with Mr. Reynolds? Yeah. Go back to that house, take a shower, and climb in that bed and go to sleep? Yeah. And then after that situation, merely 8 days later on October 16th, did you again go with Mr. Reynolds and participate in a robbery of Mr. Sanchez? I did not participate. And I appreciate the fact that you said it. Let me ask you this way. Without you, would Mr. Sanchez ever ended up on Oak Forest Drive? Yes or no? No. Okay. So, Mr. Sanchez only ended up there because he took you home, correct? Correct. And then when law enforcement found you and Mr. Reynolds and arrested you all on October 23rd, did you not have the backpack on your back with Mr. Sanchez's items in it? I did. And let me ask you, what's the last line of your letter? I had and said that I'm a victim. No, see see that's what you wrote. Aren't the victims Mr. and Mr. Sanchez? Why don't you consider me as the victim? Answer my question. Are they Are they victims or are you the victim today? All three of us are. That's a good one. Mr. Wright. Rather than fully accepting responsibility, Natalie emphasized her own struggles and circumstances. She offered explanations that shifted the blame away from herself and portrayed herself as under the influence of Nafiss. With that, the court turned to Nafiss Reynolds. So, Mr. Reynolds, how are you? How are you? I'm all right. good, sir. Can you hear me? Yes, sir. Sometimes I don't speak loudly enough. It's a bad habit, but we got to speak loudly today, okay? Yes, all right. Now, sir, your audience is both this Judge Nobles as well as the victims in this case and you can see on the screen as well as in the stands, okay? Um are you nervous? Yes. Okay. If any of my questions are unclear, you let me know. The same goes for Judge Nobles as well as Mr. Bowman, right? Yes. Okay. You thought about what you'd like to say to Judge Nobles and the victims in this case. Yeah, I apologize The microphone is yours, sir. The way I was raised in this stable household, I come from wonderful parents that I would not I wouldn't change for nothing in the world. My mother raised me in all love and understanding. She taught me to treat my family and friends the way they explained that I always wanted to be treated. My father taught me about having morals and principles. He showed me good. He showed me good. He showed me good. Yes, and and showed me good. So, I would like to apologize for the people's lives I destroyed by my actions and choices. I have made a wrong decision. The victims in all of this I'm deeply sorry. I pray Mr. Nafis, as I said earlier, you're a young person. How old are you? I'm You're 23 years old. 23 years old. So, if you Judge Nobles might give you 30 years, she might give you 20 years, she might give you 25, she might give you 15. What's your life going to look like when you ultimately leave prison? Let's say it a better way. What if the court was concerned that you might be a danger to our community if you were suddenly released from prison or when you are? What would you say to that? That wouldn't be me. Oh, I didn't make a mistake. And I wasn't in my right mind. I heard the part of your letter where you offered apologies to the victims in this case. But see the gentleman there in the red t-shirt in the second row. Is there anything else you like to say to him? Sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. That's I really feel bad. I was I didn't wish I could change it. Do you have any remarks for the other gentleman, sir? Just something. Just thank you. That's all my questions. The sheer violence of what happened to Mr. is I mean in his letter to me he said that Ms. Fonseca looked at him and said something along the lines of this is your last day to live. I can't imagine [clears throat] the fear. He then said she grabbed his hair and pulled it backwards. And Mr. Reynolds slit his throat. And I believe it was three times. That in and of itself is enough to convince me to the sentence that I am going to sentence. The court rejected the idea that the attack against Saul was impulsive or accidental. It was deliberate, coordinated, and nearly fatal. In the end, both Natalie Fonseca and Nafiss Reynolds were sentenced to 30 years in prison, ensuring that neither would have the opportunity to harm anyone else in the community for a very long time. What isn't clear, however, is how fully Saul ever recovered. Court documents show that both victims had the guts to stick around and see their cases through to sentencing. But what isn't in the file is how Saul is actually doing today. Trauma like that doesn't just vanish when the gavel bangs. We know he survived the attack, but we don't know the price he paid for it. All we can say for certain is that he lived and he made sure his attackers answered for what they did.