Dear WeHo: This Was Supposed to Be Just a Meetup

A West Hollywood resident shares a harrowing account of violence after meeting someone through a dating app.

Content Warning:
This letter contains descriptions of assault, violence, and trauma. Reader discretion is advised.

In mid-February 2025, I met up with someone from an app (I won’t disclose which app/site). Per usual on the apps, after about two months of chit-chat and failed attempts, we finally found a time to sync up. What appeared to be a regular meetup—his place, Leimert Park—turned into a horrific nightmare that I am grateful and blessed to have survived.

Upon entering his house, we went into the bedroom, where I was pushed to the ground, handcuffed, feet shackled, blindfolded, mouth gagged, and duct-taped. I was maced, repeatedly kicked, and then beaten with a baseball bat. After suffering several blows to my head, I realized the back of my head had been bashed open, and I was quickly drenched in my own blood. Screaming, crying, trying to flee—he grabbed me and dragged me to the bathroom, sat me on the toilet, and started demanding all my money. As he went through my wallet and belongings, I noticed the bathtub was full of water. I believed that’s where I was supposed to have ended up. But on a whim, he decided he wanted to throw me in the trunk of my car and head to an ATM.

I was dragged to the backyard and then into the garage. Before being put in my trunk, I noticed he hadn’t locked the garage door. After he stepped outside, I seized a lightning-fast opportunity—I bolted. At first, I stumbled; But the adrenaline was so intense, I somehow loosened the restraints. I don’t even know how—it was pure survival instinct. I pushed out the gag with my tongue and started screaming, yelling in the middle of the night, pleading for help, begging someone to call 911. I saw the nearest house and entered their yard. After passing through their chain-link fence, I heard a car speeding down the street. He had gotten behind the wheel of my car, sped up to me, and tried to run me over. To my horror, he plowed through their yard and struck me, adding injuries to my leg and hip.

I’ll stop here… but he ended up stealing my car (which was later located, crashed, and totaled), my phone, my wallet, and all my belongings—every single thing besides the blood-soaked socks and underwear I was wearing. This person—who, in my opinion, was not gay—is still out there and has not been found.

I mention this and include most of the horrific details of that night not to instill fear, but hopefully to prevent this from happening again to someone else. In the hospital, the LAPD said there has been a rash of these lately—from all gay apps. Why I hadn’t heard of, nor gotten wind of, these events on the news or from anyone in our community stumps me. But I hope you take caution. And if no one else sounds the alarm, perhaps my story can help someone else in the LA gay community avoid this in the near future. If you see something, say something. But more importantly, be careful who you link up with.

As silly and juvenile as these apps can be, I do thank everyone I’ve met—for the hospitality if you ever hosted, the kind words via comments, and for some of the genuine connections I’ve made. But obviously, lol, I will no longer be active. And if we’ve communicated via text, just know why I haven’t responded or replied (I still don’t have a phone—or a car, for that matter). I’m going to take some time to heal—physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. And if anyone has some advice or leads into where I can process and heal from this with professionals or in a safe space, I’d love some direction. Thanks in advance.

Take care and be safe. xo Jordan