Police: 22-year-old beaten, held for ransom in Holmesburg

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - It's parent's worst nightmare. A mother watched her son being attacked all on her phone live.

It happened just before 11: 30 a.m. Friday in Holmesburg.

A tow truck parked outside the 4200 block of Decatur Street was part of a ransom plot, according to Northeast Detectives.

"When they got there he was tied up with some electrical wire and some jumper cables and some of the wire had run out of the house to the tow," Northeast Detectives Dennis Rosenbaum said. "The truck outside the house. We believe they were going to try to electrocute him but failed in that attempt."

Detectives say 15th District officers got a call about an alleged kidnapping.

"We get there it's pretty much still in progress," Lt. Rosenbaum said.

Plot twist after plot twist--a son held for ransom--a family in a faraway land. They were visiting family in Morocco.

But in the age of social media the alleged attackers didn't leave a note.

"The mother received a Facebook video demanding $40,000 for the release of their son," Lt. Rosenbaum said.

Instead loved ones called 911. Police say the mother recognized the basement as hers in the video. 15th District officers busted down the door and found the homeowner's 22-year-old son beaten and tied up.

Police didn't have to look far for the suspects.

"Further search of the house they found four of the suspects all hiding in the house," Lt. Rosenbaum said.

Police say the fifth man was the a neighbor. Cops found him in the crowd hanging outside.

"It was all over a debt," Lt. Rosenbaum said.