What started as a routine stop at a Winter Park Wawa reportedly turned into a chaotic scene on Sunday, when witnesses say a man grabbed a woman and hauled her into a pickup truck as she screamed for help.
According to an arrest affidavit, witnesses and surveillance footage show a confrontation outside the Wawa on North Orlando Avenue. The video reportedly captures a black pickup fleeing the parking lot while the rear passenger door hangs open, and investigators say they later traced that truck back to a suspect and began checking on the woman’s condition and piecing together what happened.
Matthew Hunt Seaberg of Orlando is facing allegations of kidnapping, tampering with a victim, and battery, according to WFTV. Winter Park police told investigators that three witnesses were on scene and that surveillance video shows Seaberg’s black Ford Super Duty moving through the lot, then pulling up to the woman. One witness gave officers the truck’s license plate number and later picked Seaberg from a photo lineup, the affidavit states.
The affidavit goes on to describe Seaberg getting out of the truck, lifting the woman by the waist, carrying her over his shoulder, and putting her inside the vehicle before stopping near the fuel pumps, according to WFTV. A sworn Orange County deputy who was present told officers he heard the woman shout, “Stop, please. You are hurting me,” and saw her crying in the truck. He reported that Seaberg then slammed the rear passenger door and sped away while it was still open. The deputy said he tried to chase the vehicle on foot but lost sight of it, according to the affidavit.
Investigation And Local Context
As of publication, Winter Park police had not posted a public statement about the incident. The department’s press releases section on the City of Winter Park website lists recent cases and media contacts, but no entry tied to this arrest affidavit.
The city has seen its share of tense police responses in recent months. In April, officers and a SWAT team responded to a barricade situation at a local condo complex, part of a pattern of high-profile calls that ClickOrlando has tracked.
Legal Implications
Under Florida law, kidnapping is defined as forcibly, secretly, or by threat confining, abducting, or imprisoning another person. It is a first-degree felony that can carry a sentence of up to life in prison, according to the Florida Statutes. Tampering with a victim and battery are additional charges that can shape how prosecutors decide to move forward.
At this stage, the allegations remain just that. Seaberg is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Prosecutors will review the arrest affidavit and decide whether to file formal charges or seek an arrest warrant, and Winter Park police have not released any further updates on the woman’s condition. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact Winter Park police. Tip and media contact details are available through the department’s public information section on the City of Winter Park website. The investigation remains active.
