James Phelps and Timothy Norton.Photo: Dallas County Sheriff’s Office (2)
Two Missouri men were arrested in connection to a missing woman whom they’d allegedly been holding in a cage, authorities say.
On Sept. 1, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office in Missouriissued detailsabout a missing person, asking locals for help finding 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater, who had last been seen on July 25. They had received a missing person report on Aug. 26.
Three days later, another man, Timothy Norton, 56, was also arrested. Both were held without bond, the sheriff’s department said in astatement.
According toWDAF, both Phelps and Norton were charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing, a class B felony. Both are next due in court on Oct. 5. It was not immediately clear if Phelps and Norton have attorneys for PEOPLE to reach for comment.
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Cassidy Rainwater.Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Phelps told authorities, according to the documents, that Rainwater was staying at his place temporarily, but he claimed she left abruptly one night, catching a ride with an unknown vehicle. He reportedly claimed he hadn’t heard from her since then.
After searching Phelps' phone, investigators found photos of Rainwater being kept inside a cage at his residence, WDAF reports. In a subsequent interview with authorities, Norton allegedly confessed to knowing she’d been in a cage there, and that he’d allegedly helped Phelps restrain the woman back on July 24.
source: people.com
