Florida’s latest crime drama unfolded in the dead of night as Anne Aksell, 29, and her younger boyfriend, Nicholas Lavallee, 20, landed in jail following a violent, ax-wielding scheme, authorities say.
The duo, according to Orange County deputies, orchestrated a terrifying setup at an Orlando apartment complex that left one man battered and robbed.
Records from Orange County Court reveal the couple now face a laundry list of charges: robbery with a firearm, grand theft auto, first-degree battery, and aggravated battery with a weapon.
The madness erupted Monday on Emily Loop, Orlando, where police allege Aksell and Lavallee teamed up with at least two other men to pounce on their target. The victim, barely escaping with his life, ran for safety after the group attacked him. His desperate flight brought him face-to-face with a woman out walking her dog—an unsuspecting Good Samaritan who dialed 911 and likely saved him from further harm.
The plot began, investigators say, with a seemingly innocent social media connection. The victim had started following Aksell on Instagram a year ago but only began chatting with her more recently. The digital conversation took a bizarre turn when someone—posing as Aksell’s boyfriend—commandeered her account, warning the victim to stay away. Peace was supposedly made online, but the calm was short-lived.
On December 29, the drama intensified. The victim received a message, allegedly from Aksell herself, claiming she’d split from Lavallee and inviting him over to her apartment. Around 11:30 that night, he showed up, expecting a romantic rendezvous.
Instead, the scene played out like a thriller: Aksell descended the stairs in lingerie, luring her admirer. As they climbed toward her apartment, a voice shouted for him to freeze—a gun pointed at him by none other than Lavallee, whom the victim instantly recognized. The would-be date turned into a nightmare as the victim bolted downstairs, only to run into two more assailants—one wielding an ax, the other flashing a knife. Police say Lavallee shouted at one named ‘Eli’ to intercept the fleeing man, and chaos erupted—punches, chokeholds, and taunts, with another suspect, ‘Fawn,’ jeering insults in the background. Amid the frenzy, the group swiped the victim’s iPhone 16, his wallet, and his keys.
Clawing his way free, the victim tore through the complex, desperate for help—and finally found it just in time. As the investigation continues, Aksell and Lavallee remain behind bars, facing serious charges as detectives work to identify the rest of the ambush crew.
