Former tech CEO appears in court for attempted kidnapping, assault charges

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – A Wrightsville Beach man accused of attempted kidnapping and assault of a 7-year-old on Friday appeared in New Hanover County Court on Tuesday.

“I met Daniel about a month and a half ago,” said Maria Squitieri, a salesperson at a store on Front Street.

Squitieri is a friend of Daniel Summers, the man accused of allegedly kidnapping a child in downtown Wilmington.

“The Daniel I met a month and a half ago was not the Daniel that was here on Thursday when I saw him on the first of January, so something snapped,” Squitieri said.

Squitieri said Summers is someone she knows as being generous.

“He was always asking how he could interact with the homeless down here, so he would go and buy food, coffee, sandwiches, blankets and he would hand them out on the riverfront,” Squitieri said.

On Tuesday, 44-year-old Summer has his first appearance in New Hanover District Court via Zoom for second-degree kidnapping…assault on a child under 12 and resisting arrest.

Police said Summers wrapped his arms around her, outside a Front Street bar around 5 p.m. on Friday.

Bystanders, including a bouncer, had to come to the child’s rescue.

On Tuesday, he had to be held down in seat by Sheriff’s deputies. Summers is the owner of a waterfront Wrightsville Beach property, he and his partner have put a Hampstead home for sale for $2.3 million.

Summers is also the former CEO of a local tech company, Lab Logs Inc. According to the company, he was removed in October 2025 and replaced by Brian Fox who said in a statement:
“It is a very sad and disturbing situation and our thoughts and prayers are with the little girl, her family and everyone who has been impacted by what took place.”

Squitieri said Summers has been struggling with his mental health and in result allegedly assaulted her before the altercation with the 7-year-old girl on Friday.

“He grabbed hold of my arms kind of put me in a body lock type of thing and was screaming, ‘tell me you’re not the beeping devil, Maria,’” Squitieri said.

Squitieri filed a police report and instead of pressing charges, she asked the deputy to look for Summers for his own safety.

“They took his name and everything obviously they probably didn’t find him because he needed help Thursday evening on the first of January,” Squitieri said.

Summers has hired attorney, John Phillips, who asked the judge that his client undergo a mental health evaluation.

The district attorney agreed with the idea. Squitieri said Summers should have been evaluated sooner.

“Daniel needs help not persecution yeah that’s the main thing he needs help not persecution,” Squitieri said.

Due to the severity of the charges, Summers will continue to be held without bond.