Kidnapped Woman Wants to Put Ordeal Behind Her

SANFORD, N.C. — A judge on Thursday increased the bond for a man charged with abducting his estranged wife, but the woman said she just wants to put the episode behind her.

Raymond "Scott" Massa, 38, whose address was listed as the Sanford Motel, is charged with kidnapping and two counts of assault in connection with the disappearance of Sherry Massa. During his initial court appearance Thursday morning, his bond was tripled, to $750,000, after prosecutors described the violent nature of the abduction.

Sherry Massa, 38, was reported missing Monday morning after her two daughters found her car abandoned in a ditch along a rural Lee County road. A window was broken out, and the engine was still running, authorities said.

Investigators said Raymond Massa used a truck he stole from his cousin to run his wife's car off the road. He then yanked her out of her car, hit her several times in the face and forced her to go with him to Carolina Beach, authorities said.

They later returned to the Fayetteville area, where Sherry Massa was able to convince her husband to let her go, authorities said. She returned home Wednesday afternoon in the truck where she had been kept captive for more than two days, authorities said.

Raymond Massa was arrested a few hours later at his mother's house in Harnett County .

After Thursday's court hearing, Sherry Massa, who was wearing sunglasses to cover two black eyes, said she wants to forget about the ordeal and get on with her life.

"I'm glad to be home. I'm glad to be with my girls, and I'm glad to be safe," she said. "I'm still going to be all right. ... My girls are strong. I'm strong. I love my family, and I love his family. I don't want anybody to be mad about what happened. I just want to go on and let it go."

Family members said Raymond Massa has been distraught over the breakup of his marriage and desperately wanted his wife back. The couple has been separated for about two years, and Sherry Massa filed for divorce a week ago.

According to court records, Raymond Massa has been charged twice with assaulting his wife, most recently on Dec. 4. Sherry Massa has also taken out two domestic violence protection orders against him – one which was in place when she disappeared.

The couple's daughters said they believe their father has a drug problem and needs therapy.

"I want to look my father in the eye and ask him why. Why did he do this? We love him. Why would he ever do anything to hurt our mom?" Ashley Massa said. "He needs a lot of help because what he did was wrong."