Man Hiding In Trunk Of Woman's Car Kidnaps Her At Gunpoint, Threatens Murder

A man in Ohio was caught for allegedly hiding inside a woman’s car and then kidnapping her at gunpoint. The victim later managed to escape while the suspect who drove away in her car was nabbed by the cops.

The woman was on North Jefferson Street in Cincinnati on Thursday, Jan. 27, when she parked her vehicle outside the house of the 40-year-old suspect, Jarrod Rodriguez. The car was unlocked from the front, allowing Rodriguez to hide inside the vehicle's trunk, according to court documents. It was only when the victim began driving on I-74 that Rodriguez made his way to the passenger’s seat, WKRC-TV reported.

Court documents state that Rodriguez punched the victim and pointed a gun at her face, threatened to kill her. Armed with a knife as well, the assailant told her she had “two hours to change (his) mind,” police revealed. The man also threatened to inject the woman with drugs during the encounter.

“He then ordered her to drive faster and told her where to go, all while holding the gun to her side,” the affidavit said, as quoted by NBC15. “Mr. Rodriguez then told her he would shoot her up with enough heroin to make her overdose.”

As the struggle went on, the woman was later able to pull the car over and get out of the vehicle. However, Rodriguez also exited the car and pursued her.

Witnesses in the area called 911 and alerted authorities about the suspect hitting the woman and trying to force her into the car, according to WLWT. The victim was eventually able to get away from her attacker and walk to a gas station; meanwhile, Rodriguez got inside the woman’s car and fled the scene.

Rodriguez was arraigned on charges of aggravated robbery, kidnapping, assault and aggravated menacing. Following the court appearance Friday, a judge set his bond at $250,000. He is due to appear in court next on Feb. 7.

Rodriguez was previously accused of pushing his wife into a wall and was arrested for domestic violence in 2018. However, the charges were eventually dropped as a witness failed to appear and testify against him. He also faced charges of misdemeanor drug possession and receiving stolen property; these charges were also later ignored or dismissed.