A woman told detectives she repeatedly rejected a relationship before a planned outing became a kidnapping investigation.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A woman’s repeated efforts to limit a relationship to friendship preceded an alleged armed abduction that ended when deputies stopped a car on Interstate 41 and freed her from handcuffs, according to a criminal complaint.
Prosecutors accuse Angelo Liberto, 22, of turning a planned May 29 outing into a forced drive toward a lake house where he allegedly threatened sexual violence. Liberto has pleaded not guilty to attempted second-degree sexual assault, kidnapping and false imprisonment. His attorney says he denies the woman’s account. The case now asks a court to examine months of contact, earlier boundary disputes, the woman’s emergency calls and the evidence collected from the vehicle.
The woman told investigators she met Liberto through mutual friends in September 2025. They went on several dates, but she did not develop the romantic feelings he wanted, according to the complaint. She said she told him multiple times that she wanted only friendship. Liberto complained that she did not allow him to kiss her or hold her hand. The available reports do not describe a formal relationship, shared home or financial connection between them. They also do not say whether mutual friends witnessed the conversations in which she rejected a relationship.
Despite that disagreement, contact continued. The complaint says the woman remained willing to spend time with Liberto as a friend, and they arranged to visit a bar after she finished work May 29. That planned meeting would later become part of the defense and prosecution narratives. Prosecutors may argue that her agreement to meet did not grant consent to confinement or sexual activity. The defense may examine the full history of their messages, plans and prior encounters while disputing her description of what followed.
Several days before the outing, Liberto allegedly appeared at the woman’s home at about 1 a.m. without warning. He told her he had a surprise. She responded that he had crossed a boundary and directed him to leave, according to the complaint. She later sent a message stating that it was the second time he had ignored limits she had set. Public reports do not identify the earlier incident she referenced or reproduce the full message exchange. Investigators may use telephone extractions or account records to establish the timing and wording.
The woman also told police about damage to her vehicle. During the later drive, Liberto allegedly admitted that he had vandalized it in the past. The complaint summaries do not specify the type of damage, when it occurred or whether she knew who caused it before the alleged admission. No separate vandalism charge was listed in the Milwaukee County case. Prosecutors could seek to use the statement as evidence of hostility or fixation, while the defense could challenge its accuracy and relevance.
On May 29, Liberto arrived for the planned outing and directed the woman toward his car. She saw lotion and chocolates in the back seat, which appeared to be the gift he had mentioned. When she moved to sit in front, he told her another surprise was waiting in the rear. She entered the back seat, and the two drove away. At that point, according to the complaint, the meeting still outwardly resembled the bar visit they had arranged.
The character of the trip allegedly changed after Liberto stopped at an unknown location. He told the woman that she should have been scared and pulled out a Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver, investigators said. He demanded her phone. She refused to give it to him unless he lowered the gun and attempted to seize the weapon during a struggle. Liberto allegedly said it was not loaded. The woman told police she gained control of the revolver, but she still could not leave because the rear doors had been secured with child-safety locks.
Liberto then produced a knife and ordered her to put on handcuffs attached near the rear door, the complaint says. She complied while he held the blade. He entered the freeway with the woman restrained behind him. She repeatedly said he was frightening her. Liberto allegedly accused her of dating other people and lying to him, using insults while also telling her she was perfect. The statements linked the violence described by the woman to the earlier disagreement over whether their connection was romantic.
As the car traveled north, Liberto allegedly said they were going to a lake house about four hours away. He told the woman they would remain there for several days and said he intended to use her as she had used him, according to investigators. She asked whether he meant that he would rape her. The complaint says he answered yes. When she asked what would happen after the stay, he spoke about people killing others because they became frightened of being caught after doing bad things.
The woman said Liberto refused to remove the handcuffs and announced, “We are at the point of no return.” She interpreted his words as a threat that she might be killed. Authorities have not identified the lake house or confirmed that Liberto had access to one. They have not released navigation records showing a destination. Even without proof of a particular property, prosecutors can argue that the statements show intent; the defense can contend that the account is unproven and must be tested against recordings, device data and other evidence.
The woman tried to reach help from the rear seat. Her first attempts to call 911 failed because the phone was in airplane mode. She continued working with the device while handcuffed and eventually connected. She also tried to reach her mother and a friend. Reports do not say whether she was able to describe her location, whisper information or leave an open line for dispatchers. Authorities have not released the call, but it helped lead deputies to the car.
A deputy located the vehicle on I-41 shortly after 11 p.m. and initiated a traffic stop, according to summaries of the complaint. Officers removed the woman and arrested Liberto. A handgun, knife and handcuffs were visible, investigators said. Police later searched the car and recovered a collection that included duct tape, a hacksaw, a tarp, restraints, chain, gloves, headlamps, a shovel, a wrecking bar, hydrogen peroxide and an unidentified liquid. They also listed condoms, lubricant, medication and unopened women’s underwear.
The seized objects gave prosecutors physical evidence beyond the two people’s competing accounts. Their legal meaning remains unresolved. A jury could be asked to consider whether the collection matched the alleged threats and trip, whether Liberto regularly carried some of the tools for unrelated reasons and whether forensic tests tied the equipment to the woman. No public report says she was placed in the tarp, tied with the chain or injured with the tools. The charged offenses center on the alleged movement, confinement, weapons and attempted sexual assault rather than completed use of every recovered object.
After the arrest, the woman gave detectives a fuller interview. Liberto was reported booked May 31 and initially held on $200,000 cash bond. At a later hearing, prosecutor Matthew Torbenson said a jail inmate claimed Liberto had admitted the allegations and discussed harming the woman further if released. Reports said a judge raised bond to $2 million. Liberto’s attorney, Chris Carson, questioned the accusations and said his client “adamantly” denied wrongdoing. FOX6 later reported court records showing $200,000 bond on June 16, without explaining the apparent change or discrepancy.
Liberto entered not-guilty pleas June 16. Attempted second-degree sexual assault carries a possible maximum of 20 years in prison, kidnapping up to 40 years and false imprisonment up to six years, according to reports describing Wisconsin law. Weapon allegations may affect sentencing exposure. Those figures are maximums, not a forecast, and Liberto remains presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The defense may seek the complete message history between Liberto and the woman, records of their prior meetings and information from mutual acquaintances. Prosecutors are expected to rely on the woman’s testimony, call records, the 911 communication, the freeway stop, seized objects and any admissible statements. Judges will decide whether allegations about vehicle damage, the late-night home visit and the reported jail conversation may be presented at trial.
FOX6 has also reported a separate Washington County false-imprisonment charge against Liberto, though the published account did not describe that allegation or identify any connection to the Milwaukee case. He had not yet appeared on the separate felony when the June 16 report was published.
The Milwaukee County prosecution remains at the pretrial stage, with the woman’s account of an escalating relationship conflict forming the timeline that prosecutors will attempt to support through digital, physical and witness evidence.
Author note: Last updated July 10, 2026.