Man accused of kidnapping woman, forcing her to stay in the woods overnight

SCOTTDALE, Pa. (TCN) -- A 29-year-old man stands accused of kidnapping a woman and forcing her to stay in the woods at gunpoint.

According to the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office, on Oct. 1, Scottdale Police performed a welfare check at a home on Jennings Avenue. The victim's family hadn't heard from her since a previous alleged domestic incident with Shawn Prince, but when officers went to the residence, no one was inside.

While officers were at the home, the victim reportedly called 911 and was at the police station. She informed officers that "Prince kidnapped her sometime Monday morning after police responded to an initial domestic incident."  Allegedly, Prince "threatened to cut her friend's child's throat if she did not comply and go with him." 

The victim claimed Prince drove her to a rural, wooded area and forced her out of the vehicle at gunpoint. Prince and the victim allegedly spent the night in the woods, and then he began driving them the following morning.

According to the district attorney's office, the victim told police, "Prince started nodding off and made the victim drive the vehicle." She reportedly started to recognize the area and drove to the police station. Authorities said she escaped and called 911 while "Prince drove away and allegedly yelled that he would burn the victim's house down."

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