"Today's the day you're going to die."
That was the threat repeated over and over by three men who violently abducted, tortured and robbed a jewelry store worker in a Center City parking garage last Saturday, according to Philadelphia Police.
The 53-year-old woman had just parted ways with her boss at National Watch & Diamond inside the garage on the 700 block of Chestnut St. when she was forced by three men into a burgundy Ford Econoline cargo van and covered her face with a hood, police said. They drove to the roof of the parking garage, where she was tortured and Tased for about a half an hour after she handed over the keys to the Jeweler's Row store, but failed to provide the store's safe codes.
From there, the men drove to the Montlawn Cemetery on Hook Road in Darby, Delaware County -- torturing, Tasering and beating the woman the entire ride, officials said.
"They kept telling her, 'Today is the day you're gonna die,' " Philadelphia Police Captain Frank Banford said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
The suspects dumped the woman in the cemetery and left for a short time. When they returned, she was trying to remove zipties from her wrists, police said, The men yelled at the victim and handcuffed her arms and shackled her ankles, the victim told officials.
After being yanked back into the van, she gave her captors the PIN number to her bank card which was used by the men at least three times, police said. Once at the nearby Wawa on the 8400 block of Bartram Ave. and twice outside a Chinese restaurant on 57th and Chester.
More than two hours after her abduction, the 53-year-old was dumped back at the cemetery where she was able to remove the hood, walk to the road and flag down help -- a woman who called 911.
The victim was taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital and treated for a concussion, hematoma, bruises, contusions and scratches, according to investigators.
"She's holding up well considering what's she's been through," said Banford.
The new details came a day after officials released surveillance video from a nearby business which showed the moments before the woman was abducted, as well as the van.
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Police also released a new photo of the van used in the crime.
The driver is in his late 20s, standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall with a muscular build, police said. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, a ski mask and sunglasses.
The second suspect was described as thin, standing 6 feet tall and wearing a gray hoodie, a ski mask and sunglasses. The third man was described as heavy and standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall with a dark hooded sweatshirt and jacket.
Banford said the victim described the driver as the most violent of the three.
Anyone with information about these men or the van is urged to call Philadelphia Police.
