Charges filed after woman held captive inside Independence apartment for days
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - Charges have been filed against a man accused of holding an Independence woman hostage inside her apartment for days as he repeatedly beat her.
Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Sunday, Feb. 23, have revealed that Jonathan M. Lawler, 35, of Independence, has been charged in connection to a days-long kidnapping incident.
A probable cause statement filed by the Independence Police Department indicated that around 2:40 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, emergency crews were called to an area apartment complex with reports of a disturbance. A neighbor reported that they heard a woman yelling and asking for her phone.
When first responders arrived, they said they also heard a woman yelling from inside the apartment. After no answer came at the door, they forced their way in and found Lawler and his victim inside. Lawler surrendered without incident.
The victim reported Lawler had broken into her apartment through the window and held her captive for between three and four days. She was not allowed to leave as he repeatedly beat her and held her phone and credit cards.
At one point, law enforcement officials said the victim was able to exit the apartment as Lawler followed her. She continued to request her phone and cards from him. However, he dragged her back into the apartment, hit her in the throat and shoved the cards into her mouth.
Investigators noted that Lawler refused to speak with them about the incident. As a result, he has been charged with kidnapping and domestic assault. If convicted, he could spend up to 19 years behind bars and pay a $10,000 fine.
As of Thursday, Lawler remains behind bars with bail set at $30,000. A bond review hearing has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, with a preliminary hearing expected at 2 p.m. on March 24. No further information has been released.
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