Two Held in Alleged Sedalia Kidnapping

Pettis County authorities say two people are charged with kidnapping a woman in Sedalia, taking her to Kansas City and holding her in hotels for two days before she escaped.

Court documents say 27-year-old Joseph Rankin and 45-year-old Paula Hopkins were both charged Monday with felonious restraint and armed criminal action. They are being held at the Pettis County Jail on $500,000 bond.

The Sedalia Democrat reports court documents indicate the woman was kidnapped Oct. 31 from her home. She was driven to the Kansas City area, where she allegedly was forced to write several checks and withdrawals were made from her account.

The woman said she was held at two Kansas City-area motels before she escaped by jumping from a moving car in Kansas City, Kansas.