A woman escaped from a locked car outside a White Oak Dollar Tree after police say her date sped off with her against her will and threatened to sexually assault her. The man, 46-year-old Marcus Render of McKeesport, was arrested at his home and now faces kidnapping, terrorist-threats and false-imprisonment charges.
According to police, the woman told officers that Render drove up to her Crawford Village home after the pair had gone on a previous date, as reported by Yahoo News. Once she was in his vehicle, she said, Render sped off, would not let her leave, and threatened to sexually assault her, according to the criminal complaint cited by WTAE. The woman told police he grabbed her leg and told her she was going to have sex with him.
Escape at the Dollar Tree
The woman's chance to get away came when Render pulled into a White Oak Dollar Tree and went inside the store. While he was in the store, the woman jumped from the car and hid behind the building or in nearby vegetation, the outlet's report notes. Responding officers later found her hiding behind a bush near the store.
A Dollar Tree employee is credited with flagging the danger to police. That employee called police and said the woman seemed like she was in danger, prompting the response that led officers to her hiding spot. As WPXI Channel 11 Pittsburgh characterized it, the worker's call helped the woman escape the situation.
Texts Described as 'Just Joking'
Investigators also reviewed messages found on the woman's phone, which the same report says included texts from Render claiming he was “just joking” and would have stopped had he known she was scared. Render is now charged with kidnapping, terrorist threats and false imprisonment, per the outlet's account. He was arrested at his home in McKeesport.
Render's preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 26, according to WTAE's reporting. No additional details about his custody status or a response from him or an attorney were available at this time.
