Woman escapes home where she was allegedly held captive and beaten for several days
11/21/2023 1:38 pm PST
GIG HARBOR, Wash. (TCD) -- A 66-year-old man was found deceased over the weekend after he allegedly held a woman captive in his home and beat her before she managed to escape.
According to the Gig Harbor Police Department, on Nov. 18 at 10:03 a.m., the victim went to a home on the 10800 block of Sehmel Drive and informed the residents she "had just escaped a home nearby where she had been held against her will for 'multiple days.'"
Police arrived at the residence and she reportedly told them a man picked her up in either King or Thurston County, though she did not know him. The woman purportedly told police she did drugs and also shared details about the home where she had been held captive. The victim, however, did not share many other details because she needed to go to the hospital for treatment.
Officers went to the residence and reportedly found blood on the porch outside. Pierce County Sheriff's Office deputies helped Gig Harbor Police contain the scene as they tried finding someone inside the home to speak with. No one answered, and police eventually obtained a search warrant to look through the home.
While inside, they reportedly discovered a 66-year-old man deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the statement, evidence at the home showed there had been an attempt to start a fire.
The victim sought help at Gary and Robin Marcello's home and rang the doorbell multiple times, according to KCPQ-TV. Gary Marcello told KCPQ he saw the victim in his driveway and she had "blood all over her face."
Robin Marcello said the woman repeated, "He's going to kill me. He's going to kill me."
Robin Marcello told KCPQ the woman said the suspect was "beating her hands, beating her arms, and her head," which made Robin Marcello believe the victim "must have had her arms up protecting herself."
According to KCPQ, Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey said the suspect allegedly hit her with some furniture as she tried to leave, which left her with cuts on her head.
The suspect reportedly lived next door to Gary and Robin Marcello. She described him as "a recluse" who "kept to himself a lot."
Busey told KCPQ there is a possibility the suspect was a "borderline hoarder" and that he did not have any prior criminal history.
Gig Harbor Police said in the statement they do not think any other suspects are involved.
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