Suspect in Tuolumne County Kidnapping, Attempted Murder Investigation Turns Himself In
Above: Jacob Chapman booking photo | Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office
A kidnapping and assault case has been reported in Sonora, in which a young woman was allegedly taken against her will, beaten, and threatened with death. The suspect in this case has turned himself in.
According to a press release by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, the victim was found with major injuries early Friday morning, March 10th, at the intersection of Shepherd and Lyons Street. She was immediately taken to the hospital, while the Sheriff’s Office was requested to take over the investigation.
The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, told detectives that she had given a ride to 20-year-old Jacob Chapman of Soulsbyville to his home near Red Heather Drive. Upon arrival, Chapman allegedly attacked the woman, striking her multiple times in the head with a flashlight. He then allegedly held her against her will, preventing her from escaping, threatened her with a gun, and forced her to drive to various locations.
Chapman also demanded the victim’s bank account information, allegedly threatening her with death if she did not comply. He bound her wrists and ankles with duct tape and continuously threatened her with death if she tried to escape. Eventually, he left her tied up inside the vehicle, but the victim managed to escape and flag down a community member for help, police said.
Detectives with the Tuolumne County Investigations Division assumed the investigation and discovered that Chapman was armed with a stolen .9mm Smith and Wesson pistol, which they recovered from the vehicle that dropped him off near the bathrooms of Columbia State Park. Due to the severity of the crime, a protective sweep of the Columbia area and state park was conducted by deputies and additional personnel.
Chapman was still at large at this time, and detectives authored several warrants and searched for him at multiple locations throughout the day and night.
Finally, on Saturday, March 11th, at about 10:30 in the evening, Chapman turned himself in to the Sonora Police Department. Deputies arrested him and transported him to the Dambacher Detention Center, where he was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, and brandishing a firearm.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information to contact the Investigations Division, Detective Hammell, at 209-533-5815.
