Bunker Kidnapping Suspect Charged

14-Year-Old Rescued After Sending Text Message To Mother

(CBS/AP)  A man suspected of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl and keeping her in an underground bunker was charged Sunday with raping the teen, Kershaw County Sheriff Steve McCaskill said.

Kershaw County Sheriff Steve McCaskill said Vinson Filyaw had eluded police with an elaborate system of hideouts and bunkers since November 2005, when he was charged with criminal sexual conduct on a 12-year-old girl.

He surrendered Sunday morning to police as he walked along Interstate 20 near Columbia, about five miles from where investigators found the teenager.

Police say Filyaw, 36, abducted the girl as she walked home from a school bus stop on Sept. 6.

Investigators arrested Filyaw in neighboring Richland County about 24 hours after rescuing the girl, who sent a text message to her mother on Filyaw's phone while he was a sleep Wednesday, McCaskill said. The sheriff said Filyaw woke up and the girl still had the phone, but she told him she was simply playing with the phone.

Geraldine Williams, the girl's aunt, said the message was very clear: "Hey mom... I'm being held in a hole."

Investigators used cell towers to determine a general location of the phone and deputies began searching for Filyaw on Friday night. McCaskill said the girl cried out as searchers approached the bunker.

"This little lady getting that message out was really the break in the case," the sheriff said. "She helped herself as much as we helped her."

Police say they still have not interviewed the girl, whose name was previously released when she was a missing person. The Associated Press is not using her name because police have identified her as a victim of sexual assault.

The girl was found Saturday about a mile from her home, hidden in a booby-trapped, 15-foot-deep hole carved out of the side of a hill and covered with plywood.

From the outside it looked like nothing more than a hole in the ground, reports CBS News correspondent Jim Acosta. But inside, there were lanterns, a small stove and food.

The chamber had a hand-dug privy with toilet paper and shelves made with cut branches and canvas, the police said.

McCaskill said it looked like Filyaw was trying to dig another bunker under that one as a possible backup hiding place, but had to abandon it when it filled with water.

Filyaw had dug two bunkers in his own yard and two in the woods and had used them to hide out since he was charged in the assault case in November.

His girlfriend Cynthia Hall has been charged as an accessory and with neglect in the earlier case, McCaskill said. Investigators say she allowed the earlier assault to take place in her home and provided Filyaw with supplies to live in the bunker.

Police were tipped off to Filyaw's location Sunday after getting a call from a woman who said he tried to carjack her about 2 a.m. outside a pizza restaurant, authorities said.

Filyaw was on foot — about five miles from his house — carrying a pellet gun, a Taser and a long hunting knife when police captured him. He gave up easily, McCaskill said, adding that he doesn't think the suspect had any help escaping.

Filyaw was being held Sunday at the Kershaw County jail. The sheriff said he was not aware of Filyaw having an attorney.

Investigators said Filyaw posed as a police officer when he met the 14-year-old girl and the teen was walked around in the woods by her captor until she became disoriented. He used handmade grenades and a flare gun to threaten her while she was in the bunker, McCaskill said.

The bunker was protected by a booby-trap.

Filyaw also has been charged with kidnapping, possession of an incendiary device and impersonating an officer, McCaskill said.

[kerimparrot1]

On the Katie Couric being the 1st female solo evening news anchor....1)Do you think our memory is so short to forget Elizabeth (Cohen) Vargas. In my short memory she holds that distiction even if by default. She got it when Bob Woodruff got his head scrambled in Iraq....2) She is another beauty queen (or wannabe)talking head. Listen to Don Henly's "Dirty Laundry". 3)Even through all that I think CBS does the best job and I'll watch "Sunday Morning" after I get up later off the VCR.

[peaceforusa]

kerimparrot1

I think you got the wrong comment page for whatever story you are referring to. But hey, I guess no big deal.

[peaceforusa]

I just want to say I am glad this story turned out as well as it did. It frightens me to know there are so many crazy people in the USA these days ready to harm our children. I wish the best to this girl and her family and truly am happy she is alive.

[buddymilo1]

IS THERE ANY CHANCE I COULD HVAE 5 MIN. ALONE WITH THIS NON HUMAN ***?

[peaceforusa]

Buddymilo1

I am sure you are not the only one that has entertained this thought!

[flolake]

I remember when rape was a capital offence, punishible by death. If we are going to persist with the death penalty, I believe we should reinstate the death penalty for rape and or kidnapping. This country needs to rid itself of the rapists and kidnappers since these two heinous crimes seem to be grabbing headlines as well as tugging at the heartstrings of America.

If the entire nation would follow Texas' lead, I believe this sort of madness would at the very least slowly abate. In short: Lance the boil.

[hondedoos]

Do you perhaps have an opening for a executioner?

[babydoll68]

While I think these sick, evil monsters that harm our children should get the death penalty, I just don't think it will happen. I can't see the government going from what basically amounts to a slap on the wrist as a punishment to the death penalty. However if they would change the laws to where these monsters are given life in prison and even castration I think it would certainly make them think twice before harming a child! The way the laws are now our children can be kidnapped, raped, molested, tortured, ect. and the monsters that do these thing's in so many cases go free or do hardly any jail time! And yes, sadly, I do speak from experience. No one believes our children unless the criminal is caught red handed! Just because they are innocent children does not make them liars! Most children are not even capable of making up stuff as sick as what these monsters have done to them! We have to listen to our kids! We have to do something to get these laws changed, these evil men and women have to be stopped! We want our children protected! And everyone wonders why parents are driven to taking the so called "law" into their own hands!!! Sincerely, Enraged Parent

[riter409]

I think it will be better if he doesent get the death penalty because when he gets to jail he better just say mommas home because everyone will have there way with him. Monsters like this deserve everything that they do to people back to them.

[ihatecrime]

everyone thinks that a ***-offender, and a creep like this one will get their *** kicked in jail- but think about all the other f*ers in jail.. whatd they do to get there? they're not gonna kick someones ***, if they've done the same thing. all in all- any ***-assault, rape, or abandoned case- the criminal deserves the death penalty. torture all the way. as being a victim once myself- the trauma is horrible, and for it to always be in the back of my mind- its always with the victim, no matter what the case. those creeps deserve the death penalty

[ihatecrime]

eh i just read my comment, and had no threat intended or anything. just anger expressed. please dont take this offensively. i apologize for it if anyone takes it the wrong way- but i just really feel bad for the 14 year old girl. and am angered by creeps like this one guy.

[t_syring]

Keep electing liberal Democrats so no one will be responsible for their behavior. I am sure this poor man had a terrible upbringing and if we were to become one of his victims, a little compassion and understanding will fix everything.

[profnostroho]

I am very much curious as to where this cell phone may have been on the 6th of September and why it was not put to use until 11 days after this horrible event took place. Thank you for your time and I am hoping to recieve an answer to this mind boggling question.