Middletown, N.Y. — A 28-year-old Middletown man has been indicted on attempted murder charges after prosecutors say he used the dating app Grindr to lure a Long Island man to his apartment and then brutally attacked him in what authorities describe as a pre-planned assault.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Reggie Florence invited the victim to his Sutton Hill apartment on August 3, promising a back-massage. Once the man lay face-down, investigators say Florence stabbed him repeatedly in the neck, eye, chest, and abdomen.
The attack left the victim with life-threatening injuries, including the loss of an eye, a collapsed lung, and spinal damage. Despite the severity of his wounds, the victim reportedly managed to escape the apartment and call for help.
Prosecutors allege the crime was meticulously planned. Investigators who searched the apartment say they discovered multiple knives strategically placed around the room, along with cleaning supplies — including a bucket, mop, and bleach — suggesting an intent to conceal evidence after the attack.
Florence was arrested soon after and later indicted by an Orange County grand jury on charges including attempted murder, assault, and possession of a weapon. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held on $500,000 cash bail.
Authorities have not released a motive, and the victim’s name has not been publicly disclosed. The case has drawn heightened attention amid ongoing concerns about safety when meeting strangers through dating apps.
“This was a chilling act of violence,” prosecutors said in court filings. “The planning and the brutality involved demonstrate clear intent to kill.”
Florence is scheduled to return to court later this year. If convicted, he faces a lengthy prison sentence.
