California Woman Held Hostage Rescued by Bill Collector
Can debt collectors be heroes? A chance visit from a car dealership employee following up on missed auto payments leads to the rescue of a woman who was held hostage in her home for three days.
A woman that had been held in her home against her will for three days was rescued Wednesday morning by authorities who were tipped off by a person making a chance debt collection visit to the location.
An ex-boyfriend of a Victorville, Calif. woman had been holding her in her home for three days when an employee of a local car dealership made a visit to the home to inquire about late car payments, according to Los Angeles TV station KTLA. The victim answered the door, and when the collector notice bruises and scratches on the woman’s face, asked if she was in trouble.
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The woman indicated that she was being held at gunpoint and the collector notified police once she left the residence. San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies intervened a short time later and arrested suspect Miguel Rios on charges of false imprisonment.
The car dealership employee went to the woman’s home after repeated attempts to contact her via phone to discuss missed payments that were unsuccessful.
Rios had apparently beaten and bit the victim after an argument and had been holding her in her home since Sunday, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department statement.
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Comments
Comment from annonymous on June 26, 2009 at 10:20AM EST
Was the account brought current?
Comment from Anonymous on June 26, 2009 at 11:12AM EST
Persistence pays off once again...
Comment from PayUp on June 26, 2009 at 12:46PM EST
I wonder if they are going to charge her a "Field Visit" fee for having to go to her house to collect?
Comment from Anonymous on June 26, 2009 at 8:19PM EST
Great, now there's another excuse that my customers will use. "I missed my payment because I was being held hostage". Thanks for letting that one out of the bag.
Comment from Anonymous on June 26, 2009 at 10:22PM EST
YEAH right!!! I bet it was another DEBT collector waiting for her turnip seed to grow up big and strong so HE could squeeze the money from this poor little lady!! WHAT a crock of BSSSSSSS...NOW when you are in trouble, dont call 911, just call your local car dealership for help. Oh, i forgot, IF STILL open and not closed by GM or Chyrsler.