Alleged Kidnapping Victim Believed She Was Going To Die

  This morning Campbell County Sheriff's Investigator Kevin McGrath released additional information on the arrest of a Campbell County man as a kidnapping suspect.  Gregory Michael Hawes (46) was arrested shortly before 7:30 a.m. on January 26th.  The alleged kidnapping victim is his estranged 45 year old wife.  Deputies were asked to do a welfare check at the woman's residence after she did not show up for work. 

Deputies found Hawes at the residence and learned that there was a family violence protection order in place against the man, he was placed under arrest for being at the residence.  Through further investigation it was learned that the man allegedly forced his way into the residence at about 5:30 a.m.  Hawes is accused of binding the woman's hands to a bed post with her clothing and also binding her ankles.  He allegedly told her that he planned to kill her and was considering burning her.  The woman told investigators that she had been gagged with clothing which caused her to believe she would die by suffocation.

The woman was eventually able to cut herself free and flee to her neighbors, at one point allegedly slipping out of her jacket after the suspect grabbed it while pursuing her.  McGrath said the woman was treated and released for minor injuries.  Hawes was still in custody this morning.

"He's right now charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and felony stalking, and with some additional information that we have learned from yesterday there is a possibility of additional charges."--McGrath

More from McGrath's press briefing available here: