Woman Recounts Kidnapping Outside Raleigh Wal-Mart

Raleigh, N.C. — A woman who said she was kidnapped in broad daylight outside a Raleigh Wal-Mart drove her alleged abductor around for nearly an hour before she dropped him off at a local mall.

Her family is now offering up to $1,000 in reward money to anyone who can help police make an arrest in the case.

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous out of fear her alleged abductor would find her again, was in the parking lot of the discount store at 1725 New Hope Church Road about 1:30 p.m. Monday when a man approached her.

"He opened the door really quickly, shut it, and showed me he had a gun," she said. He then demanded they start driving.

She said she drove for nearly 45 minutes before stopping at a SunTrust Bank ATM, where she initially withdrew $100 and then, more than $500.

"He was either going to take sex from me," she said. "Or he was going to need money -- need me to come up with money."

Investigators said the man then had her drop him off at Triangle Town Center off Capital Boulevard. They are now reviewing surveillance video, possible photos from the ATM and personal items the assailant might have left in the woman's car.

Police are looking for a black man in his mid-20s, who is about 5 feet 8 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a purple shirt and a baseball cap.

Anyone with any information about the case should contact the Raleigh Police Department at 919-890-3555 or Crime Stoppers at 919-226-CRIME.

"We know some things about the case, but there are a lot of other things we don't know," Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said. "Right now, that suspect is unknown."

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Women need to carry some type of defensive protection - a taser or maybe some of the "better" mace with a 15 or 20 ft reach. Stun guns are to close quartered .... A can of wasp spray will work - just have to be willing to use it (any of it!) I posted this earlier but it got somewhere.

shine
June 26, 2007 2:07 p.m.

Glad she's alive, his next victim may not be so fortunate...

floyd_lawson
June 26, 2007 2:01 p.m.

Hey ya'all! The guy's got a gun and gives you directions, you probably follow them.

But once they've got you in the car and you're driving them somewhere, remember, you have a weapon that's more powerful than that gun - your car. Use your accelerator and steering wheel to scare the bejebbers out of them, and hopefully, to attract attention to your vehicle.

If need be, you can drive your car right up through the windows of the police station down on Hargett Street. That would get some of the right attention directed your way.

P.S. I did something similar to this myself, but I was being followed by a stalker in Roswell, GA. I drove right up to the front door of the police station and laid on the horn. The stalker had parked across the street at an empty gas station and the cops got 'em by catching his license number when he drove away from them.

God bless.

Rev. RB

Spirit Warrior Woman - Rev. RB
June 26, 2007 1:56 p.m.

pack and canesfan You are on the money, one of the first things they tell you @ a self defence class, if the situation is bad where you are imagine if they force you to leave the scene. Chances are they are going to take to to a deserted area. Its better to take your chances where you are.

tooblessed
June 26, 2007 1:56 p.m.

Very Scary!