Alice - Kidnapping Victim May Be Tied To Tree

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Kidnapping Victim May Be Tied To Tree

POSTED: 11:58 a.m. EST November 21, 2002 UPDATED: 12:24 p.m. EST November 21, 2002

SHALLOTTE, N.C. -- Authorities say a woman abducted in South Carolina by two fugitives from a Kentucky jail may be tied to a tree in the Brunswick County woods.

Alice Donovan Donovan last seen at gas station off U.S. 17

The search for Alice Donovan, 44, who was abducted from a Wal-Mart parking lot on Nov. 14, continued Thursday. Searchers used helicopters and foot teams to comb thick, swampy land south of Wilmington.

Authorities believe Donovan could still be alive and tied to a tree, the Morning Star of Wilmington reported Thursday.

"She may be in the area somewhere restrained," Hewett said. "Anything is possible at this time."

Hewett said authorities' suspicions that Donovan could be alive and possibly tied to a tree stem from the suspects' other apparent abduction in Kentucky two days after their jail break.

James Hawkins, of Hanson, Ky., was kidnapped Nov. 5 by two men with a knife and left tied to a tree outside Evansville, Ind., until he freed himself.

Donovan last was seen at a gas station just off U.S. 17, where she stopped with the two suspects in her blue BMW about 4 p.m. Nov. 14. That was about 1 1/2 hours after Donovan was abducted from the Wal-Mart in Conway, S.C.

The two fugitives have been captured. Chadrick E. Fulks, 25, was arrested Wednesday. Branden Basham was captured Sunday.

Hewett said Fulks put gas in the BMW, paid at the pump and then went into the store to buy something. The sheriff wouldn't say whose credit card was used to buy the gas or what the suspect bought in the store.

"We know without a doubt that the car, the BMW, then left this parking lot back out to U.S. 17 and traveled north,"the sheriff said. "We can put the vehicle at least another 14 or 15 miles north of our location now."

"We also know between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. that the two escapees and the BMW were back in South Carolina," Hewett said. "Whatever they did here in North Carolina with Ms. Donovan, they did quickly."

Hewett asked the public to call authorities with any information about sighting of the BMW, the fugitives or Donovan.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2002

Answers

Bring in the dogs.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2002

They've been using dogs but they don't have a starting point. "We know without a doubt that the car, the BMW, then left this parking lot back out to U.S. 17 and traveled north,"the sheriff said. "We can put the vehicle at least another 14 or 15 miles north of our location now." "We also know between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. that the two escapees and the BMW were back in South Carolina," Hewett said. "Whatever they did here in North Carolina with Ms. Donovan, they did quickly." So the area in question is at least a 17-mile stretch and it's rained since then.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2002

Yes, I know, but I've also seen good results from dogs worked in a grid search. I'm afraid that if she's been tied to a tree outside for this long that the outcome won't be good.

I still don't understand why the perps would want to hurt her. These were petty scum, not murderers . . .

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2002


7:25 PM - Fox reporter live--Sheriff believes Alice within 3 miles of where he stands in Bolivia. A "credible" witness says he saw two men and a woman there. Haven't heard that piece of info thus far. Will keep an eye out for further details.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2002

I hope that it's true and that it was Alice and not another victim or one of the "girl friends."

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2002


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