A California man has been sentenced to 394 years to life in prison for holding a 74-year-old woman prisoner for two years. Ian Edard Kroe, aged 57, was convicted on multiple charges, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and torture, according to authorities.
The case centers around Kroe’s former friendship with the woman, who he had met in 2016. After Kroe’s mother passed away, the woman reached out to him, and they soon began a road trip across the West Coast. However, during this journey, Kroe gained control over her finances, convincing her that she was in danger and draining her bank accounts.
Beginning in August 2020, Kroe kept her confined in a hotel in Belmont, California. Over those two years, he repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her life if she attempted to escape. The woman expressed her desire to return home to New Mexico, but Kroe refused to let her leave.
The ordeal was finally revealed in August 2022 when the victim managed to send a discreet message to a friend asking for help, leading to her rescue by police. Authorities found her in a severely weakened state, with visible injuries.
District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe noted that the transformation from friendship to such a violent relationship is rare and shocking. Kroe attempted to delay the trial by pretending to be ill, but he was ultimately convicted.
