The Beginning
David Daniels was born just outside of Orlando, Florida, and moved to Brandon, Florida, when he was two. Growing up in a rapidly expanding area, David attended multiple schools—Alafia Elementary, Lithia Springs Elementary, Burns Valrico, Burns Middle School, Rogers Middle School, and Bloomingdale Senior High School. While this constant change was challenging at the time, it shaped David’s remarkable ability to connect with others, as each new school year brought new friends and social opportunities.
Though David wasn’t a top student in high school, he challenged himself with rigorous coursework, earning a GPA in the upper 2’s with a weighted GPA of 5.0. He was passionate about video games, emo music, art, and computers, embracing the “nerd” or “geek” label with pride. A lifelong Florida Gators fan, David initially thought he’d attend the University of Florida, but after visiting the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2002, he fell in love with the campus and community. His decision was made, and he became a proud UCF Knight.
David thrived at UCF, making it his home and later serving on the UCF Alumni Board in Denver, Colorado. He balanced his social life with academic success, even taking a class trip to Paris and Lyon, France, during his senior year. In the summer of 2006, David interned in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, an experience that would significantly influence the next seven years of his life.
After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Management and a 3.2 GPA, David pursued his dream of working in resort operations. He climbed the ranks from intern to management, eventually opening and managing the AAA 4-Diamond Mar Vista Grande resort as General Manager. However, the relentless 24/7 demands of the job led David to realize it wasn’t the right fit for him. He returned to Orlando with his wife at the time, briefly worked in life insurance sales, and then transitioned into a career in technology. Following a divorce, David sought a fresh start and moved to Denver, Colorado, in the summer of 2016.
The Middle
A serial monogamist, David built meaningful relationships and fully embraced the Colorado lifestyle. He became an avid hiker, biker, sports enthusiast, and concert-goer, exploring new experiences like skiing, ice hockey, and attending silent discos. He also dedicated himself to the UCF Alumni Board, working tirelessly to try to bring together over 2,000 alumni in the region.
In June 2021, David’s life took an unexpected turn when his father passed away suddenly at the age of 68. This loss deeply affected David, and those close to him noticed a change. Though he tried to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend, the strain was evident. On David’s birthday in April 2022, his girlfriend found his beloved cat deceased, a discovery that further shook him. They then broke up a month later to what seemed to be the tipping point of David’s episode.
Struggling with extreme paranoia and on edge, David returned to Florida at his mother’s urging. A friend invited him on a family vacation to Alabama, hoping it would help clear his mind. Instead, David’s mental state deteriorated further. During the vacation, he was arrested for entering a stranger’s house, believing he was saving a child who had been abducted. In reality, it was a hallucination, and David was charged with trespassing and public intoxication, despite having nothing but coffee in his system.
His mother picked him up from jail the next morning, but David’s paranoia persisted. After an argument, he left his mother at a gas station and checked into a roadside motel, where he was later Baker Acted for attempting to rescue children from a semi-truck—children who didn’t exist.
David’s uncle brought him back to Brandon, where he tried to resume normal life. However, his mental state remained fragile. One night, while heading to a Tampa Bay Lightning game, David became fixated on an industrial complex in downtown Tampa, convinced it was significant. He filmed the location on Facebook Live and then, feeling overwhelmed, walked 13 miles back to Brandon. Upon arriving home, David believed there was a military device implanted in his leg and attempted to remove it, again on Facebook Live. Concerned friends alerted authorities, who searched for him but ultimately left after speaking with him.
The following day, David’s life changed forever. He rode his bike to the Fishhawk neighborhood, following what he believed was a guided path. After hours of biking, he stopped at Cherry’s Bar and Grill for lunch, where he became convinced that a child was in danger. Shortly after, he found himself in handcuffs, being taken to Hillsborough County jail under two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of child abuse.
The Future
David is doing his best to make the most of his time while on house arrest. 90% of those placed on house arrest in the State of Florida violate their probation. He hopes to make his voice heard and let people know what actually happened that day. Though time will tell, David plans on returning to Denver when he is a free man.