Police are on a manhunt for a suspect accused of kidnapping and torturing a woman, and they believe he is avoiding police through the use of dating apps.
Authorities said Friday that they found a woman bound and “severely beaten into unconsciousness” in Grants Pass, Oregon, on Jan. 24. They said she was secretly confined “in a place where she was not likely to be found.”
The woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
When they raided a property in Wolf Creek with the help of an Oregon State Police SWAT team, they were unable to find their suspect, 36-year-old Benjamin Obadiah Foster.
“Following a lengthy manhunt, Foster evaded capture and likely received assistance in fleeing the area,” said Grants Pass police.
Police said that Tina Marie Jones, a 68-year-old woman, had helped Foster after he had intentionally driven his vehicle over an embankment. She was arrested for hindering prosecution.
Investigators said that the Foster is “actively using online dating applications to contact unsuspecting individuals who may be lured into assisting with the suspect’s escape or potentially as additional victims.”
Foster is wanted for attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault. There is a reward of $2,500 for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.
Violent criminal history
Foster had been previously accused of similar crimes of torture and kidnapping involving his girlfriend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Although he was charged with five felonies for holding her captive at her apartment for two weeks, he cut a deal with prosecutors, received a sentence of two and a half years in prison, and was granted time served for the 729 days he had been in jail before the conviction.
“We are laser-focused on capturing this man and bringing him to justice,” said Grants Pass Police Chief Warren Hensman Thursday.
“This is a very serious event, a brutal assault of one of our residents that we take extremely seriously,” he added.
Police warned that Foster may have changed his appearance and he should be considered “extremely dangerous.”
Here’s a local news report about the incident:
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