Florida woman rescued after leaving note in sandwich shop: 'Please help me'
Jordan Williams (Credit: Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office)
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. - Deputies in Florida said they were able to rescue a kidnapped woman after she left a handwritten note in a local sandwich shop.
The backstory:
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office on its Facebook page said last month, deputies arrived at a business in Navarre regarding a suspicious note found and reported by an employee.
According to PEOPLE, the note was left at a Jersey Mike's Subs and included a plea for help and a nearby address.
Authorities said the note was written by the woman, and she indicated that she was being held against her will and feared for her life.
Using surveillance video and other resources, authorities tracked down and found Jordan Williams, 34. Investigators said Williams and the victim had a history of domestic violence.
Deputies searched Williams' home and found the woman, who also said she had been abused.
The woman told officers she was assaulted, threatened with weapons and was being held in isolation. Authorities observed injuries on the woman, including broken bones. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
What they're saying:
"There was this little piece of crumpled up paper that was shoved next to our toilet paper dispenser, and it looked like a piece of trash," employee Eleanor Coffee told NBC 15. "She was like, 'Please help me. I'm at this address in Navarre. I need you to call the police and do a wellness check.'"
What's next:
Authorities said Williams has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and false imprisonment, felony and misdemeanor battery, and battery by strangulation.
His arraignment is scheduled for June 19, according to PEOPLE.
The Source: The information in this story comes from statements by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and reporting by outlets including PEOPLE and NBC 15. This story was reported from Los Angeles.