Alleged kidnapper denied bond in New Kent Circuit Court

A request for bond by a woman accused in an alleged out-of-state brutal kidnapping that ended Jan. 6 at the Pilot Travel Center in Talleysville has been denied in New Kent Circuit Court.

Judge B. Elliot Bondurant denied a request by Laura Evelene Sorenson, 31, of Clive, Iowa, Monday morning during circuit court proceedings.

Bondurant heard the request from Sorenson’s attorney, Terry Osborne, who pointed to the defendant’s minuscule background offenses.

“My client’s record reflects she has no history of dangerous crimes,” the defense attorney said. “While I know she won’t be released on her own recognizance, we are asking the court to set a secure bond.”

Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory countered, first by calling Trooper Stephanie McFall to the stand. McFall was among the responding troopers to arrive at the scene after a truck driver noticed suspicious activity coming from an RV.

“When I arrived, I noticed injuries on the victim,” the trooper testified. “Among them include infections on the lower ab, burns on her back, and lacerations to her feet.

“There were also other injuries but we did not take photos of those areas at that time,” concluded McFall.

Gregory submitted photos along with a victim’s complaint of the nature of her injuries to the judge. The commonwealth’s attorney proceeded to question Sorenson.

“Where do you plan to stay?” he asked. “You have no family in the area and no job.”

“I plan to go to my boyfriend’s family house,” responded Sorenson. “I can stay there and look for a job and won’t leave.”

Gregory moved onto the defendant’s criminal history, citing a 2003 domestic violence case and a 2006 OWI (operating while intoxicated) case. He proceeded to move on to her family.

“You don’t have any family in this area do you?” he asked. After receiving confirmation that Sorenson did not have family, he asked about her daughter.

“If this was a family vacation, why wasn’t your daughter with you?” Gregory said, ending his line of questioning.

Despite one final proffer from Osborne, Bondurant entered his order to deny allowing the defendant out on bond.

“Right now, the presumption of innocence has not been overcome,” he said. “Bail is denied.”

Sorenson remains in custody and is expected to appear back in court Feb. 11 for a preliminary hearing.