A 37-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 75-year-old woman in Pearce, Arizona, which occurred on Friday, January 3. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office reported that the woman contacted authorities around 8:10 p.m., stating she was abducted at gunpoint earlier that day from her home by a masked man dressed in dark clothing.
The suspect entered her house through the back around 3 p.m., blindfolded her, and forced her into his vehicle. During the ordeal, the woman heard loud noises but didn’t know what was happening, according to police.
She was later moved to the back seat of her own 2007 silver Chevy Avalanche and driven away. The woman managed to free herself from her restraints when the kidnapper stopped at a Dollar General store, allowing her to escape and seek help at a nearby residence.
When police arrived, the woman informed them that her boyfriend should still be at their home and requested they contact him to notify him that she was going to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries she sustained during her ordeal. Unfortunately, when officers went to the victim’s house, they found her 67-year-old boyfriend deceased.
Authorities have identified Rynn Prairie-Rocca as a person of interest in this case. They noted he might have a large dog with him and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Police later reported that Prairie-Rocca had barricaded himself in a location for about 90 minutes before they successfully coaxed him out and took him into custody. He has since been transported to Cochise County Jail.
As of now, the motive for the kidnapping remains unclear, and authorities have not confirmed if there was any relationship between Prairie-Rocca and the victims. Details surrounding the death of the 67-year-old man have also not been shared.
The investigation is ongoing, and updates from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office are awaited.
