Notification by alert truck driver leads police in New Kent to alleged kidnappers, victim; FBI handling case, but withholding comment

An alert tractor-trailer driver at a New Kent County truck stop is being credited with saving a young woman from the clutches of a man and woman who are now in police custody facing possible kidnapping and other charges.

Authorities, meanwhile, are being closed mouth concerning details. State police spokesman Sgt. Steve Vick said the matter has been turned over to the FBI. Officials in the Richmond FBI office are releasing no information at this time.

“The FBI is investigating this matter with Virginia State Police and New Kent County Sheriff’s Office,” said FBI special agent Michael R. Schuler on Wednesday. “However, we have no further comment as this is a pending investigation.”

Events began to unfold around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when the New Kent Sheriff’s Office received word from the truck driver concerning “a suspicious situation” at the Pilot truck stop on Route 106 at the Interstate 64/Talleysville interchange, said New Kent Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin.

The driver reported that he watched a person exit an RV with dark-tinted windows parked nearby and enter the truck stop’s convenience store on multiple occasions over a short period of time. The driver then spotted a young woman peering out of one of the RV’s windows just seconds before she was violently yanked away by someone inside the RV. A commotion then ensued inside the vehicle.

“The truck driver thought this was a suspicious situation and called us,” McLaughlin said. “We then contacted the State Police thinking they could get there faster since this was close to the interstate.”

State Police units arrived first on the scene and took the man and woman, who have not been identified, into custody.

McLaughlin said his office is assisting the State Police and the FBI in the investigation. The alleged victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.

Unconfirmed reports from other sources say the young woman was allegedly abducted about two weeks ago somewhere in Iowa. Sources have also said the alleged victim suffered burns about her body from being branded by hot irons.

No additional information about the alleged perpetrators has been released, and the truck driver’s name has not been released.

Updates on this story will appear on this website as soon as new information becomes available.