Utah woman escapes alleged kidnapping attempt

Crime • Estranged husband was believed to be taking her and their son to Georgia, police say.

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Police arrested a man Monday morning for allegedly assaulting and abducting his estranged wife in Bountiful, with the intent to take her across the country.

Just before midnight Sunday, a concerned family member called the Bountiful police about two missing relatives — a woman and her 14-year-old son. Officers went to their home, but did not find any signs of a crime, according to a police news release. Investigators looked for the two, but did not find them.

Then by 9:54 a.m. Monday, the woman's mother received a text from the woman saying that her estranged husband had beaten and abducted her, the release adds. She sent the text from the Green River-Moab area, some 200 miles from her home.

Investigators contacted the law enforcement agencies in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico about the reported abduction. By 11:35 a.m., San Juan County deputies and Blanding City police found the vehicle in Blanding — another about 75 miles away — along with the woman, her son and the estranged husband, according to the release.

The 45-year-old man was allegedly taking them to Georgia, where they have family connections, said Bountiful Police Lt. Dave Edwards.

The man was arrested and is being held in San Juan County Jail pending transport to Davis County Jail, where he will be booked under suspicion of kidnapping and domestic violence, according to the release.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for injuries related to her alleged assault, the release adds.

The teen was unharmed. It was not immediately clear whether the father had custody of the son, Edwards said.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

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