On March 22, 2023, South Bend Police began investigating reports of a male being robbed, confined, battered, intimated, and strangled by four people inside of a residence in the 1200 block of Wilber Street.

According to police, the victim stated one of the suspects invited him to the home to pick up food and heroin.

When the victim arrived, he was asked into the kitchen and then ambushed by four individuals.

The victim told Violent Crimes Unit detectives that two of the individuals were armed with firearms. One of the suspects pointed a gun at the victim, threatened to shoot him, then fired it over the victim’s head.

The victim reported he was forced to the basement, where he was subsequently bound with various ropes, chains and/or cords and beaten with pieces of wood and an electrical cord.

Police say the cord was later wrapped around his neck and used by one of the suspects to strangle him.

The victim stated he was also burned with a cigar and waterboarded. The victim’s phone was also taken during the incident.

According to police, the torture went on for approximately five hours, until the victim was able to escape the bindings and run to a nearby home, where he called police.

When officers found the victim, he still had an electrical cord wrapped around his neck, as well as a shirt, which the victim advised was used to gag him.

The victim was transported to the hospital for the treatment of numerous injuries.

Through investigation, Violent Crimes Unit detectives identified three of the suspects, all of whom were familiar to the victim.

The three were arrested on March 28 following the execution of a search warrant, and assistance from the South Bend Police Department’s SWAT team and the DuComb Center.

The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office filed the following charges against the suspects:

Robert Hollins IV (35):

• Criminal Confinement While Armed with a Deadly Weapon
• Criminal Confinement with Moderate Bodily Injury
• Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury
• Armed Robbery
• Intimidation
• Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury
• Pointing a Firearm at Another
• Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun
• Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun- Prior Felony Conviction within the last 15 years

Eddie Guyton (24):

• Criminal Confinement While Armed with a Deadly Weapon
• Criminal Confinement with Moderate Bodily Injury
• Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury
• Armed Robbery
• Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury
• Strangulation

Alexus Guerrero (26):

• Criminal Confinement While Armed with a Deadly Weapon
• Criminal Confinement with Moderate Bodily Injury
• Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury
• Armed Robbery
• Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury

Hollins, Guyton and Guerrero are being held at the St. Joseph County Jail.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.