LOUISIANA
Chance Seneca, 21, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday before to one count of kidnapping, officials stated.
According to his plea agreement, Seneca admitted that on June 20, 2020, he used Grindr, a dating application for gay and bisexual men, to kidnap and attempt to murder H.W., a gay man.
Specifically, Seneca acknowledged that he used Grindr to propose a meeting with H.W. Seneca drove H.W. to an isolated house, took out a handgun, and told him to put on handcuffs.
Seneca then attempted to murder and dismember H.W. Seneca intended to murder and dismember H.W. to satisfy his homicidal urges. Officials stated that he planned to continue murdering until he was caught or killed.
“The facts surrounding the events that took place, in this case, are very disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “It is nothing short of miraculous that the victims who endured the vicious attacks from this defendant survived. We will continue to fight to seek justice for victims who suffer at the hands of defendants such as this.”
Seneca is facing life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25.
The FBI and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Myers Namie of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.