Woman Held Captive For A Week, Sexually Assaulted By Father-Daughter, Then Abandoned In California Desert

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Friday announced the recovery of a Las Vegas-area woman who had been held captive for a week and abandoned in the desert by a man and his daughter.

The woman, reported to be in her 40s, was kept in a room, sexually assaulted and forced to take out money from her bank account. Police found her near a highway by Edwards Airforce Base, north of Los Angeles in the Antelope Desert Valley.

Captain Eduardo Hernandez of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said at a press conference that the woman was found Wednesday during a routine check by military personnel. She was disoriented and suffering from exposure to environmental elements.

The father and daughter were identified as Stanley Lawton, 54, and Shaniya Nicole Poche-Lawton, 22. They were arrested and face charges of attempted murder, first-degree ATM robbery, kidnapping to commit robbery, kidnapping from outside the state, and rape.

The two reportedly abducted the woman at a location in Las Vegas while armed with semi-automatic handguns. The woman was then taken to the pair’s home in Palmdale, California, which is roughly 50 miles north of Los Angeles.

Police have confirmed that the perpetrators knew the victim but are not related to her.

“She’s very lucky to be alive,” Hernandez said.

The woman was taken to a hospital and has since been released.

The father and daughter are currently being held on $4.5 million and $3.5 million bail, respectively. They are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. The case will be tried as a federal case since the woman was taken across state lines.