Trio accused of kidnapping woman in Madison
Three people kidnapped an out-of-state resident Wednesday after saying they needed a ride to the bus station.
The three people, a man named Joshua Gouker, a woman named Jahaira Riddle, and an unidentified 15-year-old boy, were in Madison for unknown reasons.
According to Lt. Terrell Cook of the Madison City Police Department, they stopped at a gas station on Highway 72 along Wall Triana.
“They stopped at the gas station there to ask for directions,” Cook said.
While at the gas station, Gouker pulled the gun on the victim, who was not identified, and told her to drive south, Cook said.
“They went and got on the interstate on I-65 southbound down near Homewood,” Cook said.
They took an exit in Homewood and decided to stop and get a hotel room. The victim paid for the hotel room, dropped them off and left.
She then returned to Madison and filed the report in Madison.
“According to the victim’s statement, we contacted Homewood,” Cook said. “She obviously knew where she dropped them off at.”
He said they had Homewood police go by, and they arrested them.
“They arrested him for unrelated charges, related to the possession of a handgun that he had,” Cook said. “And then we now have a warrant out there for kidnapping.”
The three individuals are in custody in Homewood.
Cook explained there is an AMBER Alert that was sent out of Louisville, Ky. in relation to the 15-year-old.
“He’ll be brought back here to face the charges on the kidnapping once he faces charges in Homewood,” Cook said. “Once he either bonds out or goes to court there, then we will physically drive down there and bring him back here and put him in the Madison County Jail. He’ll take the charge of kidnapping. I don’t think he’ll be a free man for quite some time.”
