Florida man accused of holding family hostage for months

DAVENPORT, Fla. – A Polk County man is facing serious charges after investigators say he held a family hostage for the past three months. 

According to the Lakeland Ledger, investigators said Larry Howard, 29, held a man and his four nieces and nephews inside a Davenport home. 

The children range in age from 5 to 13 years old. 

Deputies said the adult victim told them Howard is a friend of a distant relative. The man says Howard, along with friends, would watch the family 24 hours a day and threatened them with guns and swords. 

The family eventually escaped the home while Howard was in another room. 

Howard is currently being held in the Polk County jail on several charges.