2 Lancaster Co. women kidnapped, locked in trunk

By Kimberly Dick - kdick@heraldonline.com

Deputies are investigating an early morning home invasion and kidnapping in Lancaster County where the intruders claimed to be police and eventually locked two women in the trunk of their car.

Around 2 a.m. Thursday, someone knocked on the door of a residence on Railroad Avenue in Kershaw claimed to be from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

A resident opened the door and three unknown men came inside the house � one was armed with a handgun, the release states.

Three women inside the house, ranging in age from 15 to 55, were ordered to keep their heads down and not to look at the men. One victim didn't listen and she was struck in the head by the armed suspect.

The suspects asked the victims about drugs, money and the location of a relative of one of the women, the release states.

When the victims offered to show the intruders the location of the relative, the 55-year-old was forced in the trunk of the family's car and a 36-year-old woman was allowed to ride in the passenger seat of the car, the release states. The 15-year-old was left at the residence.

The unknown men drove the car to a small dirt road off Highway 521 near Andrew Jackson High School, where the other victim was forced in the trunk. The suspects then left.

The women were able to free themselves and run to a nearby home to ask for help.

"Home invasions are a serious issue and unfortunately are becoming too familiar, but this incident, one where the suspects take innocent citizens hostage, lifts this type of crime to a new level," Sheriff Barry Faile said in the release.

"The full extent of the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office investigative capability will be activated to help track these violent and reckless individuals down and get them off our streets. This cannot and will not be tolerated here in Lancaster County."

Deputies from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident.

All three men are black. They were wearing black hooded sweatshirts. Two were wearing black pants and the other was wearing khaki pants. No further description is available.

Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspects are encouraged to call the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at 803-283-4136 or contact Crime Stopper's at 1-888-Crime SC.