A shocking case has come to light in Maumee, Ohio, where a 26-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped and tortured for nearly a week by his girlfriend and five other men. The dramatic rescue was captured on police body cam footage, which showed the victim reuniting with his mother at a local gas station.
What Happened?
Police were called to the Speedway gas station on March 21, where they found the victim waiting with his mother. The man had managed to escape briefly and used a stranger’s phone to call her for help.
Initially, the mother told police she didn’t report him missing because she believed her son chose to stay with his girlfriend and her friends. But when officers asked the victim directly, he lifted his shirt to reveal severe injuries, proving he had been held against his will.
Victim Has High-Functioning Autism
According to police, the man is on the autism spectrum but is considered high-functioning. Investigators said he was manipulated and coerced into staying at a Red Roof Inn motel for about a week, where he was subjected to violent abuse and deprived of food and sleep.
Maumee Police Chief Josh Sprow explained:
“He was being essentially tortured, assaulted over the course of a week. He was struck with a baseball bat, fists, elbows, and even stomped on while lying on the ground.”
Doctors later confirmed he had suffered multiple broken bones from the repeated beatings.
Six Suspects Arrested
Police arrested six people, including the victim’s girlfriend Martina Jones, 28. The other five suspects are:
- Aaron Bradshaw, 49
- Austin Bradshaw, 23
- David Cessna, 26
- Chance Johnston, 27
- Michael Esqueda, 28
Investigators believe Jones was the leader and had ordered the men to carry out the beatings.
Group May Have Been Planning to Flee
Police said the group was planning to leave the area, but the victim’s timely escape prevented it. Officers said the situation was highly unusual.
“It’s clearly a strange situation,” Chief Sprow said. “You don’t often see multiple adult men in a relationship with one woman and then involved in a serious kidnapping and assault case like this.”
The motive behind the abuse is still unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
Legal Action and Charges
All six suspects have been indicted and face serious charges, including:
- One count of kidnapping
- Three counts of felonious assault
- Two counts of tampering with evidence
The judge has set bond at $200,000 each, and all the accused are in police custody as the case proceeds.