A woman who was allegedly assaulted and kidnapped in Connecticut early Thursday morning has been found safe in Rhode Island, police said.
Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert told WTNH they made contact with the victim and suspect around 1:15 p.m., roughly five hours after the woman was forced into a vehicle and driven east.
The pair, who are both in their 30s, are believed to be in a relationship. Neither of their identities have been released.
The incident began just after 8 a.m. at a Dunkin’ on Maple Avenue in Hartford, where multiple people reported a woman being dragged outside while screaming for help. Employees ran out in attempt to stop the suspect, but he forced the woman into her car and sped away.
After eventually making contact with the couple, police said they were able to convince the suspect to drop the woman off at a safe spot in Providence, R.I., according to the Hartford Courant.
She was found there unharmed, but the suspect and the vehicle — a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe with Rhode Island plates reading “1YD 582” belonging to the victim — have not been located.
Police said it’s unclear why the two were in Hartford, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
“These are the worst kind of investigations to get your heart pumping because you have to assume the worst, and you have to exhaust every single resource,” Boisvert told WTNH.
