A 22-year-old Mississippi man is facing a first-degree kidnapping charge after Pickens County deputies pulled a woman from the back of his car at a gas station in Aliceville, Alabama. Terron Gustarvus Wells of Macon, Mississippi, was taken into custody at the gas station on October 1, with the victim found inside the vehicle unharmed.
According to Tuscaloosa Thread, authorities say Wells forced the woman into the back of his car during an alleged kidnapping in Tuscaloosa before driving her toward Mississippi. Court depositions filed in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court add detail to that account, stating a witness reported seeing Wells force the victim into the vehicle at a Tuscaloosa residence that day before he headed toward the state line, according to Tuscaloosa Thread.
A deposition cited by the same report indicates Wells threatened to beat the victim once they arrived at his residence in Mississippi, and the woman told investigators he had physically harmed her in the past. The victim feared he would hurt her again, per the court documents referenced in the original reporting.
Deputies Race to Catch the Vehicle Before the State Line
Pickens County Sheriff Jordan Powell said deputies received information about the alleged kidnapping and immediately worked to locate the vehicle, ultimately finding it at the gas station in Aliceville with officers from the Aliceville Police Department assisting in the response.
“Our deputies work around the clock and answer the call whenever someone needs help,” Powell said, according to the same account. He added that his deputies “showed what it means to serve and protect” during the rescue.
Suspect Now in Custody of Tuscaloosa's Violent Crimes Unit
Wells was turned over to Tuscaloosa investigators and was in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, the Tuscaloosa Thread reported.
Wells was granted $60,000 bond, per the report. He is charged with first-degree kidnapping, a Class A felony under Code of Alabama § 13A-6-43 that carries a sentencing range of 10 to 99 years or life in prison, according to Guntersville Law, LLC. A conviction on that charge also carries potential fines of up to $60,000 under Alabama Code § 13A-5-6, the firm notes.
Aniah's Law Allows Judges to Deny Bail in Some Cases
Under Alabama's Aniah's Law, a judge may deny bail for certain listed charges, according to Ballotpedia. The law took effect following a 2022 constitutional amendment named after Aniah Blanchard, who was abducted and killed in 2019 by a suspect who was out on bond at the time.
