LINDA PAYNE

Linda Payne

lpayne@newstopic.net

Members of the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office are searching for the person they think kidnapped and stabbed a Caldwell County woman on Sunday, and they are requesting assistance.

CCSO Det. Shelly Hartley said the department is on the lookout for a white male in his mid to late 30s. He has sky-blue eyes, long eyelashes, shoulder-length blonde hair and a potbelly. He is said to weigh approximately 180 pounds, and is 5 feet, 8 inches in height. He last was seen wearing a blue T-shirt, black tennis shoes and blue jeans.

The victim provided a description of the suspect to a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) sketch artist.

Anyone who may have seen this individual is asked to contact the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office at (828) 758-1526 or Caldwell County Crimestoppers at (828) 758-8300. Callers do not have to reveal their names, and a cash reward will be paid for information leading to an arrest.

Hartley said the victim, whose name was not released, reported she was abducted at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning on Leta Lane in Sawmills. She said she was on her way home from her daughter's house when a man approached her vehicle asking for help. She told Hartley that the suspect displayed a knife, reached into her car, pulled the keys out of the ignition and entered the vehicle on the passenger side. When he got into the car, Hartley said the victim remembers him saying, "Let's go for a ride."

Hartley said the suspect directed the victim toward Interstate 40, heading west, and the victim remembers driving for several hours. The victim told Hartley that at some point Sunday afternoon, she was directed into a wooded area. While there, the victim started to fight with the suspect, and she was stabbed twice.

The victim said she passed out for several hours, and when she awoke, the victim found that the suspect had left her car and keys behind. She reported that she drove to a local shopping center and called for help.

The investigation into a possible motive still is ongoing, but Hartley said there appears to be no signs of sexual assault.

The victim is back at home and is recovering from her injuries.

"If anyone saw anything that morning or has any information about who this guy may be, please call us," Hartley said. "We need your help in getting this individual off the street."