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Woman Avoids Alleged Kidnapping at Utah Gas Station
A woman is safe after narrowly escaping an alleged kidnapping attempt by alerting a bystander at a Utah gas station.
Arrest Made by Iron County Sheriff’s Office
The Iron County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox 13 Utah that Epigmenio Bustillos Marquez, 53, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly trying to kidnap a woman. The victim managed to thwart the attempt by slipping a handwritten note to a witness at a gas station in southern Utah.
Incident Details
On March 8, around 1:30 p.m., deputies were called to the Cedar Band Travel Plaza, located about seven miles southwest of Cedar City, following reports of a kidnapping.
Witness Account
A witness told investigators they received a handwritten note from the woman indicating she was in trouble and needed help. The witness observed the victim getting into a white Chevrolet Equinox with Nevada license plates. The vehicle entered Interstate 15, heading northbound, and the witness followed it.
Traffic Stop and Arrest
Deputies conducted a traffic stop and reported that the female victim, who was not identified, appeared to be acting unusually. They asked her to exit the vehicle. The driver, Marquez, provided identification from Durango, Mexico, with a false name and date of birth.
Additional Evidence
Investigators later found another Mexican ID card in Marquez’s wallet with his real name and date of birth. Despite being shown the identification, Marquez continued to deny his true identity.
Victim’s Testimony
The victim told officers she and Marquez had been in a relationship for 25 years. However, she noted recent erratic behavior from him. She explained that she had asked Marquez to drive her to work that morning, but instead, he accused her of cheating and threatened to take her to Salt Lake City or Denver.
Threats and Violence
The victim claimed that Marquez threatened her, saying she would die if she tried to exit the vehicle due to the high speed they were traveling. He allegedly took her phone to prevent her from calling for help and struck her in the mouth at one point.
Charges and Detention
Marquez was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on one first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault. He also faces misdemeanor charges, including assault, providing false information, interruption of a communication device, prohibited use of an ID, and operating a vehicle without a license or permit. He is being held without bail pending a pretrial hearing.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Iron County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, covering topics such as missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected].
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