In a harrowing incident that unfolded in Seligman, Arizona, a kidnapped woman managed to escape her captor’s clutches by passing a desperate note for help to a vigilant gas station customer. The courageous actions of both the victim and the Good Samaritan ultimately led to her safe rescue.
According to a press release from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the unnamed woman found herself in a perilous situation when she slipped a handwritten note to a customer at a Chevron gas station on a fateful Tuesday evening around 5 p.m. This plea for assistance included the woman’s name and a chilling revelation that she had been kidnapped.
The note did not stop at a mere cry for help; it also provided crucial details, including a description of the van she was being held captive in, a contact number, and an alarming assertion that she was en route to Kingman and Las Vegas.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the customer swiftly dialed 911, informing authorities that the suspect’s van had recently departed westbound on Interstate 40. Moreover, the customer provided law enforcement with clothing descriptions for both the man and the woman, enhancing the chances of locating them.
With an immediate response, deputies from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, launched a search operation to track down the van. Their efforts proved successful as they located the vehicle at Mile Post 116 on I-40. In a swift operation, 41-year-old Jacob Wilhoit was apprehended.
Subsequent investigations unveiled a disturbing narrative of events. Wilhoit had allegedly abducted the woman on a Monday morning from a car dealership in the Phoenix area, posing as an Uber driver while donning a disguise with a wig. Throughout the terrifying ordeal, he reportedly restrained the woman while driving towards Las Vegas, spending a night at a Lake Mead park along the way. Authorities discovered the presence of “multiple firearms” in the vehicle, raising further concerns about the victim’s safety.
In response to this horrifying incident, Jacob Wilhoit was taken into custody and now faces a litany of charges, including harassment, threatening and intimidating, aggravated assault, unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, and several other assault-related offenses.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office praised the victim’s extraordinary courage in passing the note, along with the customer’s unwavering willingness to assist in her rescue. The swift response and coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies ensured that the victim was spared from further harm, enabling her to reunite with her family.
