How Vince McMahon Stepped In to Protect Sonya Deville After Home Invasion Incident

Sonya Deville has opened up again about one of the most harrowing experiences of her life—the 2020 home invasion that nearly ended in tragedy.

Appearing on Rule Breakers with Saraya, Deville (real name Daria Berenato) shared the full story of the night a stalker broke into her home with disturbing intentions—and how Vince McMahon personally stepped in to protect her afterward. Deville began by recalling the exact moment she realized her life was in danger.

“I get this DM that says, ‘Look outside your porch. I’m here. That blonde b**h inside will die first.’ I froze. My stomach just dropped. I thought it was a sick troll at first, until I saw movement by the glass door. He had cut a hole in the screen and was literally inside my house. I screamed for Mandy, and we bolted out the back. I called 911 as we ran barefoot through the yard.”*

Police later arrested the intruder—Philip Thomas II—who had a knife, zip ties, and duct tape in his bag. Deville revealed that she couldn’t sleep for days afterward and couldn’t bring herself to step foot in that home again. She also shared that Vince McMahon personally called her after the incident and immediately took action.

“Vince called and said, ‘Are you okay? I’m sending security right now.’ He had WWE security parked outside my parents’ house for weeks. He made sure we had a safe place to stay. Whatever people say about Vince, that’s the side they don’t see—he really did take care of me.”

Deville admitted that the ordeal forever changed her relationship with fame and privacy.

“It made me realize how real stalking is. It’s not just online trolls. This guy had been planning it for months. I’m one of the lucky ones. He got caught. But most stalking victims never get help until it’s too late.”

Since the incident, Deville has worked with advocacy groups to push for stronger anti-stalking laws and more protections for public figures and victims of harassment. It’s a sobering reminder that the dangers celebrities face aren’t always in the ring—and Deville’s story shows both the trauma of the experience and the quiet acts of support behind the scenes.

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