Veteran robbed, duct-taped and left in abandoned garage in Dayton

Heather Renee Byrd, left, and Shawn Deangelo Shank   MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL

Heather Renee Byrd, left, and Shawn Deangelo Shank MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL

A man and woman are accused of robbing and beating a Dayton veteran before binding him with duct tape and leaving him in an abandoned garage.

Police were called around 2 p.m. May 18 to the 300 block of South Woodward Avenue on a kidnapping report after the victim was able to get the attention of a letter carrier on his mail route, according to Dayton Municipal Court documents.

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The victim told police “the suspects were supposed to give him a ride to the bank and the VA Hospital but instead taped his hands, feet and mouth and beat and robbed him then dumped him in an abandoned garage,” a statement of facts read.

The suspects, identified as 29-year-old Heather R. Byrd and 44-year-old Shawn D. Shank, were found outside the victim’s apartment near a burgundy Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Shank admitted he gave the victim a ride but denied he assaulted or robbed anyone, police said.

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However, a search of Shank’s car turned up a bloody towel, a roll of tape that matched the tape the victim was bound with and the victim’s wallet, cellphone, keys and cane, according to the statement.

Byrd and Shank are each held on $500,000 bond in the Montgomery County Jail. They are next due May 27 in Dayton Municipal Court.

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