Fugitives wanted in Kentucky kidnapping found in West Tenn.
[gtxvideo vid=”aoxZvGPH” playlist=”” pid=”OTSe9U1y” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/aoxZvGPH.jpg” vtitle=”Ky Kidnappers Arrested PKG”]
HENRY COUNTY, Tenn. — Two fugitives wanted in connection to a Kentucky kidnapping who were found hiding in West Tennessee faced a Henry County judge Tuesday. The pair was wanted on multiple charges, accused of holding a woman at knife point for several hours and assaulting her. “I feel very insecure, yeah,” neighbor Stella Hutchens said. Neighbors along Highway 641 North in Puryear said they were shaken up after two alleged kidnappers were found hiding Sunday morning at a home in their neighborhood. “We received the warrants from Calloway County after they advised us they were going to be somewhere in that area, and officers responded to the house and were able to locate them,” Henry County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Adam Jenkins said. Jenkins said deputies were on scene for a little more than an hour. “After a brief stay at the residence, they were able to confirm through another member that was living there that they were actually at the house,” Jenkins said. “Officers waited around for a while and were finally able to get them to come out.” Jenkins said the pair is Justin Thornton and Angela Gruner, who were wanted on six charges out of Kentucky including kidnapping, second degree assault, third degree terroristic threats, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree burglary. Deputies from the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office said on May 8 deputies responded to a home in Kentucky where they found a 23-year-old woman who was assaulted and threatened numerous times and was held for hours against her will. Multiple neighbors told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News they did not want to go on camera but said it is an uneasy feeling knowing two criminals were found so close to their homes. “I knew they’d had trouble down there before, and I’m just proud they got them,” Hutchens said. Calloway County deputies believe Thornton and Gruner are responsible for kidnapping and assaulting the 23-year-old who they said is now recovering at home. It is unclear if the victim knew the suspects. The judge reset both Thornton and Gruner’s court dates to 9 a.m. on May 19. Officials said the two are being held in the Henry County Jail in lieu of a $15,000 bond each.
