Thursday, August 1, 2013
Suspect In Culleoka Rape, Kidnapping Arrested In Ethridge
A man wanted in connection with a rape, kidnapping incident that occurred in Culleoka last weekend was later apprehended in Ethridge.
Officials report that the victim, age 22, gained the assistance of a Culleoka couple when she knocked on their door around 2:00 a.m. Sunday. The couple told police officers that they had heard her screaming and looked out to find what appeared to be two people fighting on the ground.
They said that the victim was only clothed on the upper portion of her body. Her lower body, they said, was covered in wet grass clippings. Once the victim was inside, the couple quickly called for help.
The woman reported she had been kidnapped and raped by her husband, age 26. Authorities have opted not to release the suspect’s name in order to protect the identity of the victim.
The suspect was able to flee before law enforcement officials arrived on the scene. The assistance of numerous agencies was enlisted and a search initiated. The husband was later located while driving along U.S. Highway 43 in Ethridge.
The suspect was arrested and transported to the Maury County Jail where he was incarcerated in lieu of $200,000 bond. He was charged with the crimes of rape, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated domestic assault.
In her statement the victim told investigators that she and her husband had been staying at a Columbia motel and had argued over a text message he had sent to another woman.
She said they left the motel around 9:00 p.m. Saturday and that he drove her to a cornfield where he beat her and forced her to perform sexual acts. She told officers that he made repeated threats to stab and kill her, leaving her children motherless.
The victim was taken to Maury Regional Medical Center where she received medical treatment.
