Woman Kidnapped, Locked In Trunk For Hours

BURKE COUNTY, N.C.,None — A woman was kidnapped and thrown into the trunk of a car when she stopped at a convenience store to get a soda, the Burke County Sheriff's Office said.

VIDEO: Woman Kidnapped, Thrown In Trunk While Stopping For Soda

Nearly seven hours later, a boater found Dawn Stansel, who was not hurt, near a fishing area boat landing in Caldwell County.

Deputies said Stansel stopped at the convenience store at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. She said she was getting a drink from a soda machine outside of Owen's Express on Burke Street in Rhodhiss, which was closed, when a man grabbed her from behind and covered her eyes with his hand. Stansel said the man pulled her backward, opened the trunk of her car and threw her inside.

"I'm trying to fight with him as best as I can and he puts me in my trunk," she said.

The man drove for 10 or 15 minutes, stopped the car and briefly got out, deputies said. He then got back inside and drove for another 10 or 15 minutes. When the car stopped the second time, Stansel said she heard another vehicle pull up and leave.

Stansel said some time later, she heard what she thought was a boat and began screaming and kicking the trunk.

"It was hot," Stansel said. "I couldn't get out. I was almost to the point of passing out."

James Lee, who had just finished fishing, said he heard noise coming from the car at about 4:15 a.m.

"It was like a hollow thud," Lee said.

The car was locked, but the window was cracked, he said. Lee used his truck's antenna to break inside through the window and then opened the trunk, freeing Stansel.

"She looked like she was exhausted, tired, and couldn't talk or breathe," Lee said.

Stansel was found about 10 miles away from the store where she was kidnapped, at Castle Bridge Landing on Castle Bridge Road in Granite Falls.

The Burke and Caldwell County Sheriff's Offices are investigating, and said many unanswered questions remain, like what the motive behind the abduction was. Stansel said she can't explain it, either, but is just glad she is around to talk about it. "I just know if it wasn't for the grace of God I wouldn't be here right now," she said.

Stansel said she could see the kidnapper's shoes and pants, and said he is a white man who was wearing blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

WSOC