A terrified abducted woman was seen running for her life after managing to escape her kidnapper in Pennsylvania.
Dramatic footage captured the moment an unidentified woman made a break for it after her ex-boyfriend, Kenneth Clarke, 53, allegedly assaulted her and dragged her by her hair into a U-Haul truck around 2pm on Saturday in Butler, according to police.
Clarke allegedly hit the woman in the face several times, causing her lip ring to rip out. He then went on to strangle her so hard that the ‘victim stated she began to lose consciousness,’ the Butler City Police Department said.
After that, Clarke allegedly threw her into a wall, which left her with a cut on her ear. He then shoved her into the vehicle by her hair and ‘threw her across the driver’s seat’.
Once they were in the rental truck, Clarke drove off while holding a green pair of scissors to her neck, officials said.
Shortly after they got on the road, the woman opened the door at a traffic stop and sprinted toward a nearby convenience store.
She was seen jumping over a mountain of snow while wearing a white t-shirt, black pants and no shoes.
Once she got inside the store, Butler Tobacco and Grocery, the woman quickly caught the attention of an employee, Tori Adams.
A woman was seen escaping her kidnapper around 2pm on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. She darted toward a nearby convenience store after jumping out of a U-Haul truck
Her alleged captor and ex-boyfriend, Kenneth Clarke, 53, ran after her before parking the car outside of Butler Tobacco and Grocery
Adams immediately knew the lady was in trouble and acted fast to protect her.
Soon after the woman found refuge, Clarke was seen frantically parking the truck in front of the store and darting inside.
Clarke, donning a bright yellow t-shirt and baggy pants, angrily walked into the store, raced toward the back, and yelled.
Adams then walked toward him and yelled back at him.
‘It was kind of mama bear mode activated and I was like, “You gotta go”,’ Adams told WPXI-TV.
Adams, a mother who had her child with her at work that day, said her instincts just kicked in.
‘I didn’t realize what was going on. She came in, just started yelling that somebody tried to kidnap her and she got away from him.
‘She was battered, she was bloody, she didn’t have shoes on, her clothes were ripped up and I just remember thinking she needs protecting. I can’t let this guy get to her,’ she recalled.
After getting the woman to safety, she informed Clarke that the police were on their way and that he needed to leave the store.
Adams added: ‘He said he was going to call the police and I said I’m already one step ahead of you buddy.’
Clarke, who donned a bright yellow t-shirt and baggy pants, darted into the store after the woman who he allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill before she got away
Once inside, the woman was immediately protected by Tori Adams, a store employee who kept Clarke away from the battered woman
After leaving the store, Clarke led police on a chase until he was arrested in a nearby town. He’s been arrested and faces several charges
He then fled the shop and led police on a car chase that ended in Cranberry, about 35 minutes away.
He was arrested and is currently being held in Butler County Jail on a $250,000 bail.
Clarke faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats, and strangulation.
Since the dramatic incident, employees at the store have been wondering how the woman is doing.
Lisa Albert, the store manager, praised Adams for her quick thinking, telling the outlet: ‘Anybody who comes in if they need help we try to help them no matter who they are.’
Albert continued: ‘Everyone’s asking for updates on her. She’s got many prayers coming out to her. Make sure she’s doing all right.’
