Ohio man arrested after suspicious neighbors call police; teen girl rescued

CANTON, Ohio (TCD) --

An Ohio man was arrested Wednesday, May 20, 2021, for allegedly abducting a teenage girl and threatening her life.

Waynesburg resident Samuel Bowles, 27, is accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl out of her house and into his vehicle on May 15, WEWS-TV reports. Prosecutors say Bowles and the victim previously knew each other. WJW-TV reports the incident occurred on May 14.

Bowles is accused of driving the teen to an undisclosed oil well site, where he allegedly beat her and strangled her, WJW reports.

Bowles is accused of then taking the teen to his house, where he allegedly picked up a knife, scissors and a hammer and other tools, WEWS reports, and then took her to a third location and allegedly threatened to pull out her teeth with pliers and shoot her with a shotgun.

Bowles allegedly showed the teen a hole dug in the ground near a trail that he “described as her grave,” WEWS reports.

Bowles got “spooked,” prosecutors allege, and he took her to a house in Canton where he allegedly locked the girl and himself in a room. Witnesses reportedly became suspicious and called police. The teen reportedly told residents at the location that she needed help.

Bowles then fled the scene before police arrived. He was arrested on Wednesday, May 19.

Samuel Bowles was charged with kidnapping; assault; aggravated menacing; and theft. He was arraigned on Friday, and held on $1.5 million bond at the Stark County Jail. He was due back in court on Tuesday, May 25.

The teenager has been safely reunited with family, WEWS reports.

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