2 men charged with kidnapping, sexual assault of Kansas cop
JOHNSON COUNTY, Kans. Authorities say two Missouri men are now charged in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a Kansas sheriff’s deputy.
Captain Brian Hill with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department in Kansas says the incident appears to have been planned, reports CBS affiliate KCTV.
According to KCTV5, William Luth, 24, and Brady Newman-Caddell, 21, both face aggravated kidnapping, two counts of rape and aggravated sodomy. They have both been held on a $1 million bond.
The victim, who is in her early 20s, was in civilian clothing and going to work. She was kidnapped while getting out of her car in the department’s parking lot. She was then blindfolded and forced into a vehicle.
“Our suspect vehicle at the Quik Trip pulls into a gas pump basically. Neither subject gets out of the car. Nobody pumps any gas. Nobody throws anything away and sits there until our deputy leaves. At the time she backs out and leaves, he exits and follows here,” says Hill. “We have a pretty good camera trail from the Quik Trip all the way to the parking lot. It appears evident to us that although they may not have been specifically looking for our victim, they were looking for a victim.”
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp said the deputy was dropped off just a half a mile away from his department’s headquarters.
She kept walking in her battered condition until she saw the lights coming from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. That’s when she knew she was safe.
“She got dropped off in a very dark, remote location and she just started walking toward the light,” said Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp. “It was very fortunate that we had somebody there that was able to bring her in and make her feel safe again. I can’t imagine what she went through. I know that she had to be terrified.”
A massive manhunt lasted throughout the weekend. Investigators were looking for the men in a blue car who they said abducted the deputy outside the Johnson County Jail and sexually assaulted her for two hours before finally letting her go.
It was Monday night when two search warrants were served. One in Independence, and the other at the Collier Group Home in Blue Springs. Investigators took Luth and Newman-Caddell into custody.
Neighbors of Newman- Caddell say they didn’t know him well but couldn’t believe what he’s accused of.
The deputy has been with the force for about six months.