ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A registered sex offender has been charged with kidnapping after authorities say he gave a co-worker a ride and refused to let her out of the car in Rowan County, on Monday.
Deputies responded to the 800 block of Heiligtown Road in Rowan County, in regards to an attempted abduction. A female caller told dispatch that she was running from man who was trying to abduct her.
The victim said she had been driven around for at least 10 minutes against her will, as the man took her down secluded back roads. She said the suspect became upset when she asked him to let her go.
The arriving deputy met with the 28-year-old victim who told him that she had worked a temporary job for the day and had been paired with 54-year-old Kenneth Durant Jones for carpool.
Kenneth Durant Jones
After work, the victim says Jones offered to take her to a local Food Lion to draw funds from the account of the temporary job service. Instead of going to the store, the victim said that Jones went to a residence and left her in the car while he went inside.
Upon his return, the victim stated that Jones began acting erratic and that she thought he may have taken an illegal drug.
According to the victim, Jones them drove to a local store but did not stop, and instead drove around the store and back to the road, before starting to drive down back roads. At this point, the victim says she repeatedly asked Jones to let her out of the car. She said that she would try to get out when he slowed down, but that he would speed up each time and began to ask sexual questions, which made her more uncomfortable.
When Jones pulled down Heiligtown Toad, which is a dead end, the victim said that she called 911. Dispatchers overheard the victim ask Jones to let her go multiple times before he slowed down enough for her to jump out of the car and run while the car was still moving.
The victim stayed on the phone with the 911 dispatcher and stated that she was being chased by Jones. She was able to run and hide until deputies arrived.
Arriving deputies detained Jones and discovered that he was a registered sex offender and in possession of what appeared to be “crack cocaine” located in his underwear.
Kenneth Jones was charged with Second Degree Forcible Kidnapping, Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
