Uh-Oh: Police Say Taylors Kidnapping Attempt May Not Have Happened as First Described
Interestingly, they’re still looking for a suspect, which I assume means they think an assault did happen and that the victim has some reason for not wanting to finger the right guy. Because the girl is 15, I’ll keep my speculations to myself.
From WSPA:
GREENVILLE – The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday a kidnapping they started investigating Tuesday, concerning a 15-year old girl in Taylors didn’t actually occur, as it was orginially [sic] reported by the victim.
Investigators are now saying the incident does not appear to be a random “stranger on stranger” incident. They say the exact nature of this reported assault is still under investigation.
[...]
Wednesday, the GCSO still said they were seeking a 20-30 year old Hispanic male, with a medium build and a thin mustache.
Investigators said he was driving an older moldel [sic] “boxy” sedan, (possibly a Volvo) in connection with this incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME.
What’s with the false reporting these days? The girl had enough injuries that police are still thinking something happened, they just don’t know what yet. Let’s hope this is resolved quickly and the girl is ok.
Update: GreenvilleOnline.com is reporting the girl has told police she recognized the man:
Deputy Matthew Armstrong said the girl has told deputies that she recognized the man who grabbed her wrist on East Belvue Road on Monday morning. They don’t have a suspect name, and no charges have been filed, he said.
The “exact nature” of the reported assault remains under investigation, Armstrong said.
The teen told deputies that she escaped by pulling away from the driver and running, a deputy said in an incident report. Deputies are continuing to look for an older “boxy” red car, which they believe could be a Volvo, Armstrong said.
Strange.
Girl, 15, Reports Kidnapping Attempt in Taylors
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a reported kidnapping attempt.
The 15-year-old victim told deputies a man tried to force her into his vehicle while she was walking on East Belvue Road near Weehawken Circle Monday at about 9:30 a.m. The teen normally catches a bus from Wade Hampton High School to another facility, but said she was walking home because she felt ill.
The victim says the suspect drove alongside her in a red Volvo, opened the door and tried to pull her into the vehicle according to the incident report.
She tells GCSO she was able to break free and run home to call for help. Lt. Shea Smith says the teenager suffered minor injuries. The incident report says she suffered a scratch on her right cheek, bruising to her left arm and scratches on her upper chest she says she received while trying to break free of the man who grabbed her.
The suspect left in his car and drove in the direction of Rutherford Road.
A forensic sketch of the suspect is not available at this time. Investigators say he is described as “a Hispanic man with a thin mustache. He was wearing a black baseball hat, white t-shirt and blue jeans at the time of the attack.” The vehicle was an older model red, 4-door Volvo.
As always, please call Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME if you have any information.
2 Men Arrested for Relax Inn Motel Rape
The Relax Inn is what people in NYC would call a “hot sheet” motel. It’s cheap, off the beaten path, and amenable to seedier elements using their services. Such places become havens for drug users and prostitutes as well as the unfortunate people who, through a variety of circumstances, end up in need of a motel room but without the funds go stay at a nicer place. They are dangerous places to be as this story proves:
Greenville police were called to the Relax Inn motel on Duvall Drive on Wednesday morning. Officers were flagged down by a woman who was wearing no clothes. The woman told police she was tied up by two men and forced to perform sexual acts at knifepoint. Lawrence Gause and Charles Guillebeaux were both arrested and charged with kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The 38-year-old victim told police she was raped and beaten by the pair in what I deduce was either a drug or booze fueled attack by two degenerates. Guillibaux is 50 and his accomplice is 40 which indicates to me that they are likely longtime criminals and the savagery of the attack (and later ease with which the victim escaped the men) leads me to conclude they were drunk or high.
Ironically, I have found documents online from 2001 where Greenville officials express glee at being able to knock down some other Relax Inn motel which was known for attracting a criminal element. I guess this is some sort of seedy motel chain?
Shell out the extra money and stay at the Drury if you need a motel. They’ve got rooms starting at $60.00 while reviews I have seen put The Relax Inn at around $45 a night. Saving $20 or $30 is not worth the risk.
Ronald Epps Turns Himself In
Ronald Jermaine Epps, the 38-year-old man wanted for stealing a parked vehicle with a baby inside, has turned himself in to Greenville County Sheriff’s deputies.
Investigators have been talking to people that knew Epps over the past few days, urging them to get Epps to turn himself in. Epps is charged with kidnapping and grand larceny. He is currently being questioned by investigators at the Greenville Law Enforcement Center.
Video surveillance and witness accounts led investigators to take out warrants for Epps on Tuesday. The crime occurred in the early hours of Monday morning when a woman left her granddaughter in her running truck while she went to get coffee at the Spinx station at 1520 S. Pleasantburg Drive. The child was returned to her family unharmed.
Ronald Epps Wanted for Greenville Kidnapping & Auto Theft
The man suspected of stealing a truck with a 10-month-old baby inside has been identified by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office as Ronald Jermaine Epps, 38.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning when the baby’s grandmother stopped her truck to get coffee at the Spinx station at 1520 S. Pleasantburg Drive. While she was in the store, the running truck was stolen with the baby inside.
The child was recovered unharmed, but deputies are still searching for Epps, who they identified based on surveillance footage and witness statements. He faces kidnapping and grand larceny charges, according to warrants. Please call Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME if you have any information.