A Tennessee man was arrested earlier this week for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a female employee last month.
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Elias Escobar kidnapped the victim after she arrived at work around 6:00 am on May 27 and he told her to enter his truck. Escobar worked as a supervisor of a cleaning company and he told the other workers that he was taking her to another business for work. According to FOX 13, he hugged the victim in his truck and told her to sit closer to him but she rejected the offer. Escobar further explained that he was taking the woman to his house to give her a massage.
After arriving at the home, Escobar told the woman to go inside and she sat on a chair that was close to the door. Moments later, he reportedly rubbed the woman’s back, and neck, and reached under her shirt to massage her shoulders. When she tried to leave, Escobar told her that she was in a dangerous neighborhood.
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The woman left and walked to a nearby Kroger where she was picked up by a friend. A month later, the woman identified Escobar after police showed her a six-person lineup. He was later charged with kidnapping and assault.
The case reflects a recent event where a man killed his co-worker for rejecting him.
As previously reported, a Colorado Springs man killed his teen coworker after she rejected his romantic advances and reported how uncomfortable and creepy his behavior was to a manager. A store manager found Riley Whitelaw, 17, was found unresponsive in the Colorado Springs store’s breakroom on Saturday shortly before 7 p.m. Hours before the murder, her coworker, 28-year-old Joshua Johnson was captured on surveillance footage stacking bins in front of the camera and taping paper over the break room’s windows.
Manager Justin Zuzino said Whitelaw complained about Johnson last year after he made advances toward her which made the work environment uncomfortable. Zunino claimed he told Johnson “to keep things professional.” However, Whitelaw wanted to work a different schedule several weeks ago after making the same complaint. She also asked to work more hours but Zunino reportedly told her it was “required” that she’d work with Johnson. Whitelaw’s boyfriend was also hired at the store three months ago which made Johnson “jealous.”
A customer said they heard a woman screaming around 5:45 p.m. and thought she heard the stalls slamming but was unsure. She left the store shortly afterward. Johnson was later arrested after he was caught by police 100 miles away from the scene. Colorado Springs police said he changed his clothes after killing Whitelaw.
Walgreens said in a statement that they were saddened by the news of Whitelaw’s death.
The safety of our customers and team members is a top priority, and we are working with local authorities in their investigation. We are making counseling and other resources available to our store team members at this location,