Police: Kidnapped Woman Rescued After Mouthing ‘Help Me’ Inside Oregon Store

An Oregon woman who was kidnapped with her child was rescued after she mouthed "help me" t
Marion County Sheriff's Office

A convicted sex offender who allegedly kidnapped a woman has been arrested after the woman mouthed “help me” to several onlookers inside an Oregon store .

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said that Christopher Hahn-Collins, 25, of Salem is in custody after he allegedly broke into the woman’s home and held her and her child at knifepoint from Friday to Saturday, according to the Daily Mail.

The woman, who is not identified, persuaded Hahn-Collins to drive her to a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Salem where deputies rescued her after several bystanders who noticed the victim mouthing the words “help me” summoned authorities to the scene.

“We have to commend her because how brave is that? She did a great job of keeping this man calm and getting herself in a position where she could get help,” Marion County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Chris Baldridge told KGW.

Detectives say Hahn-Collins and the victim did not know each other before the attack.

Hahn-Collins was booked into the Marion County Jail and charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, menacing, unlawful possession and use of a weapon, giving false information to police, and violating his parole stemming from a prior sex abuse conviction.

A warrant for Hahn-Collins had been issued November 27 after he failed to check in with his parole officer. He was on probation after he finished serving a prison sentence for first-degree sexual abuse and strangulation in September, KPTV reports.

Hahn-Collins appeared in Marion County Circuit Court Monday for his arraignment hearing, and is due back in court December 20.

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