A Texas man has been arrested after a woman reported to police that she was kidnapped and held captive inside a garage for four to five years.
Lee Carter, 52, is now facing charges of aggravated kidnapping as authorities investigate the harrowing details of this case.
Woman Held Captive for Years Reaches Out to 911 via Texting App
The victim reached out to authorities in April 2023 when she managed to contact 911 through a texting app, revealing that she was being held against her will.
Houston Police responded to the call and rescued the woman from the garage where she was reportedly confined.
According to reports from KHOU, the woman explained that she first encountered Carter when she was pregnant and panhandling several years ago. Carter offered her a dollar and then propositioned to help her.
However, the situation quickly turned grim as Carter took her to his home and locked her inside the garage.
Allegedly, the victim suffered physical and emotional abuse during her captivity, including rape and being forced to take drugs. Investigating officers discovered deplorable conditions inside the garage, including a broken toilet, a dirty mattress, and minimal provisions such as food, clothes, and diapers.
The victim shared with the Texas police that Carter would occasionally allow her into the house, but there was no shower in the garage. Carter reportedly controlled her access to food, providing only snacks and chips while depriving her of proper meals.
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Texas Police Respond Multiple Times to Disturbing Kidnapping Case
Disturbingly, the Texas police had been called to the residence eight times over the past year, with the victim taken to the hospital multiple times. On one occasion, a neighbor witnessed her attempting to escape while pregnant.
Despite repeated pleas and attempts to escape, the victim claimed that Carter would threaten to harm her, and he successfully prevented her from leaving the garage.
Strangely, Carter was not present at the home when the Texas police responded to the initial call in April, and he was not arrested at that time. However, on January 4, 2024, he was located at a motel and subsequently arrested.
Carter is currently in jail, with bail set at $100,000. He has been ordered not to have contact with the victim, and if released on bail, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor.
In a recent development on January 5, officers returned to the residence after receiving a tip that the woman might still be there. Despite entering the home and garage, authorities did not find the victim, and her current whereabouts remain unknown.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover more details about this distressing situation.
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