Story Published:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:52 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:52 PM EDT
HARLEM, Ga. - The family of a Harlem woman abducted from a grocery store, beaten and left for dead is speaking out.
It’s a story first reported by NBC Augusta 26 News.
“We put our faith in the lord that he's going to get caught and we find out who did it and Justice can be served,” said James Malpass, son.
Waiting is all James Malpass can do as investigators search for the man who abducted and attacked his mother, Patricia.
“She thought she was going to die,” said Malpass.
The evidence is seen on Patricia’s face and arms. Patricia wasn't ready to tell her story.
NBC Augusta 26 News talked to her son who says she just finished shopping at the IGA in Harlem and was on her way home.
“He was hiding in the car. While she was turning onto her road, he jumped from the third row to the second row. He stuck a gun to her face and told her to keep driving,” said Malpass.
Patricia kept driving all the way to Greenwood County, South Carolina. That's where the man told her to get out of the car, forced her into the woods and made her take her clothes off.
He then beat her and left her for dead. A driver found Patricia naked on the side of the road.
“You hear about this anywhere else. But you don't think it will happen to your own family here in a small town like Harlem,” said Malpass.
Lt. Kevin Hartwell of Harlem Police Department is working this case.
“It was a shock. We haven't had anything like this out here since I've been here, said Hartwell.
But what makes this case even more shocking is what happened days before Patricia was abducted.
Incident reports show her home was broken into sometime last weekend. A safe with more than $30,000 inside was taken.
Then, on Monday Patricia was driving in her car when she saw a three-foot long rattlesnake crawl across her foot. Then on Wednesday, she was abducted.
Investigators say all three incidents may involve the same person.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s forensic team is collecting evidence from Patricia's car. GBI has brought in a sketch artist. Investigators tell me the car was found at the scene and they believe the attacker walked away.
User Agreement