Woman escapes kidnapping in lee County; arrest made after chase
A Lee County woman made a heroic escape during a kidnapping incident Saturday night. The kidnapping suspect was later arrested following a high-speed chase.
The ordeal began shortly before 11:30 at night on Saturday, March 16, 2024, when Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a kidnapping that occurred in the 100 block of Lee Road 2063 in the Salem community of Lee County, Alabama.
A BOLO was immediately sent out to surrounding agencies giving the vehicle description and the name of the suspect.
Russell County Sheriff’s Deputies observed the vehicle on U.S. Hwy 80 East in Phenix City and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
A high-speed pursuit ensued, and the subject eventually wrecked in Columbus, Georgia, where 28-year-old Eric Deyon Shorter (28) from Columbus was taken into custody.
“An investigation revealed that Shorter kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint and threatened to kill her and another male subject if she did not comply with his demands,” the sheriff’s office said. Shorter than forced the female into the vehicle and drove away. The female was able to bail out on U.S. Hwy 80 East in Russell County as the vehicle was speeding away.
The female suffered from severe road rash, cuts and bruises and was transported by ETS to East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika for treatment.
Shorter remains in custody in the Muscogee County Jail and is waiting extradition to Lee and Russell counties where he will be charged with multiple felonies including kidnapping 1st degree, menacing, felony attempting to elude and various other charges to be determined.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867)
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