Horry County Police Looking For Kidnapping Suspect, Victim Found Safe

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WPDE)-Sunday morning officers were called to the Scotchman on Dick Pond Road in Horry County for a kidnapping, according to Krystal Dotson, the Public Information Officer for the Horry County Police Department.

Dotson said a masked gunman went into the store and “forcibly removed” the store clerk. She said the suspect didn’t take any money or anything from the store before leaving with the victim’s car.

The 28-year-old women was found unharmed in North Carolina around 7:30 Sunday morning, according to Dotson.

According to the police report, a man who stated that he works for Sun News and was delivering the newspapers to Scotchman Gas Station noticed that no attendant was in the store. He said he looked in the store in including the management office and the walk-in cooler, restroom and trash areas. After he couldn’t find anyone, he said that’s when he called 911 and waited for Horry County Police.

An officer found the victim’s purse, cell phone, and jacket under the front counter area of the store which had her South Carolina Driver’s License. From there, dispatch was able to locate a contact number that was linked to a family member.

That family member was able to provide a vehicle description to dispatch.

Another officer said a few hours prior the attendant was there, and said that she would be working until 8 a.m.

A notice was issued to be on the look out for the victim and the vehicle that was registered to her to surrounding agencies and North Carolina.

The report says a key-holder responded to the location and gave officials access to the video surveillance.

The suspect appears to be a light skinned individual who was wearing dark jogging pants with a green stripe, a black jacket with a red zipper, a black hat, a red bandanna worn across the face and neck area, and black gloves.

The suspect entered the store at 4:35 a.m. holding a silver semi-automatic handgun, racked the slide back on the weapon while walking through the door towards the front counter. The suspect then approached the counter holding the gun arms length out and had the weapon pointing in the direction of the victim; she was standing behind counter. The suspect then jumped over the counter, grabbed the victim by her arm, and led her toward the register with the gun pointed against her back.

After, the suspect grabbed the victim’s car keys from her purse and escorted her at gun point out the front entrance of the store.

Officers on scene found an abandoned black bike laying on the walkway to the front entrance of the store and a 24 oz Budweiser beer can sitting upright behind the store. Both items were collected and sent to evidence.

The Criminal Investigation Department was notified of the updated information.

While still on scene, the victim called her family member to say that she was fine and had escaped. She said that she was placed in the trunk of her vehicle by the unknown suspect and that when the vehicle stopped at the Sun Do store, she was able to escape the trunk. The victim notified that she was in NC, was able to make contact with Columbus County PD, and Columbus PD notified Horry County PD.

Police are asking for help from the public in finding the suspect or suspects. If you have any information you can leave an anonymous tip by calling 843.915.8477.

The Horry County Police Department is investigating.