Man kidnapped, raped ex-girlfriend
August 3, 2007
Adapted from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A man was behind bars after police said he threatened his ex-girlfriend with a gun, raped her, tied her up and left her inside his van in the heat and then tried to strangle and suffocate her.
State police charged the 32-year-old man with attempted homicide, kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, carrying a gun without a license and other offenses.
Responding to a 911 call from a neighbor of the victim, state police arrived at her house where she said the man had tried to kill her.
The 30-year-old woman, who was still partially bound, said she had let him stay with her after he arrived from out of state last week. But a few days later, she said, he pointed a loaded .357 pistol at her and threatened her.
The next day, she said, he raped her. Later in the day, she said, he forced her into his van, tied her feet and hands with rope and left her inside the vehicle in the extreme heat for two hours.
When he came back, she said, he started to strangle her, then grabbed a pillow and tried to suffocate her.
At some point she escaped and ran to her neighbor's house.
Another neighbor later spotted the man’s van, with an 18-foot camper attached, driving on the road near where the assaults occurred. Police gave chase for about a half-mile before the man pulled over.
Troopers arrested him without a fight.
The woman was treated at a local hospital and released.
The man was being held in the county jail on $250,000 bond. |
