Westmoreland County woman kidnapped by her husband found in Kentucky, man taken into custody
Lydia Prince, the woman who ran into a police station after she escaped being kidnapped and held at gunpoint, only to be reported missing again, has been found.
The 48-year-old Prince ran into the police station last week after her husband allegedly kidnapped her and held her at gunpoint. Days later, the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said she had been missing since Thursday afternoon. The Scottdale Police Department added that they believed she was in a red Subaru with Pennsylvania license plates.
On Saturday morning, the Scottdale Police Department said that Lydia Prince and her husband, Shawn Prince, were found in the parking lot of a hotel in Maysville, Kentucky. Police in Maysville, along with Kentucky State Police, were able to take Shawn Prince into custody. He is now awaiting extradition to Westmoreland County.
"It was a great combined effort between our department and the authorities down South," Scottdale Assistant Police Chief Matthew Zelenak said on Monday.
Zelenak said the break in the case came when a roadside camera in Kentucky spotted the red Subaru linked to the woman's disappearance.
"Thankfully, when they were able to take him into custody, she was safe," he added.
Lydia Prince is recovering with her family, police said.
Woman goes missing just days after escaping kidnapping
On Thursday, the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said they were charging 29-year-old Shawn Prince with kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats, and harassment in connection with Lydia Prince's kidnapping.
Lydia Prince's family contacted the Scottsdale police on Wednesday after not hearing from her in days. Police went to the home, which was empty, but while they visited the home, they learned Lydia had gone to the police station.
She told police that after an earlier domestic incident, Shawn Prince had kidnapped her, and he threatened to cut the throat of her friend's child if she did not go with him.
He then took her to a wooded area and put a gun to her head. They stayed in the wooded area until Wednesday morning, and after that, Shawn allowed Lydia to drive, and recognizing where she was, she went to the Scottsdale Police Department.
"He told her to take over driving," Mike Whipkey, police chief in Scottdale, said. "At that point, she noticed she was in the Ohiopyle area. So, she got her bearings and was able to come back to Scottdale."
On Thursday, she was reported missing once again.