Kentucky Man Arrested for Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend, Beating Her for Days Over Phone
Joshua Hawthorne, 32, allegedly forced his ex into his car, restrained her for days, and beat her trying to unlock her phone. She escaped during a Walmart stop.
Louisville Man Faces Multiple Felony Charges After Ex-Girlfriend Escapes During Walmart Stop
A Louisville, Kentucky man allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend off the street and held her captive for three days, repeatedly beating her in an attempt to force her to unlock her phone, before she managed to escape while he was inside a Walmart, Law & Crime reports.
Joshua T. Hawthorne, 32, faces charges of first-degree assault tied to domestic violence, kidnapping of an adult, first-degree strangulation tied to domestic violence, first-degree wanton endangerment, and third-degree terroristic threatening. Jail records reviewed by Law & Crime also show a charge of violating an interpersonal protective order.
On Aug. 23, the woman was walking in Louisville when Hawthorne pulled his car alongside her and forced her inside, according to an arrest citation obtained by local ABC affiliate WHAS. He drove a short distance before stopping and allegedly punched her in the face and strangled her. He then drove to his home in St. Matthews, a neighborhood just east of Louisville.
Once inside, Hawthorne allegedly dragged the woman into a closet and left her restrained there for approximately an hour. He then removed her from the closet, cut her hair and clothing, and dragged her by her ankles into another room, the court record states.
He repeatedly demanded she unlock her phone. When she refused, he allegedly struck the device with a firearm and pointed the gun at her face. Hawthorne then locked the bedroom door and remained beside her through the night, per WHAS.
Three days into the ordeal, Hawthorne decided to make a trip to a nearby store and ordered the woman to go with him, according to the citation. He drove to a Walmart market, went inside, and left her alone in the vehicle.
She seized the opportunity, escaped the car, and found help from bystanders. The Louisville Metro Police Department was contacted and launched an investigation. Officers documented a black eye, bruises, and a cut on her ankle. The woman told investigators that Hawthorne had threatened to kill her during her captivity.
Hawthorne was arrested on Wednesday and was expected to be arraigned on Thursday.
Source: Law & Crime