Layton man held woman, daughter hostage for 2 1⁄2 weeks, police say

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LAYTON — Police arrested a Layton man who they say wouldn’t allow a woman and her child to leave his apartment for 2 ¹⁄₂ weeks and made her hide in the bathroom whenever police showed up.

Jessie Leo Sosa, 37, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of kidnapping, child kidnapping and two counts of violating a protective order.

Sometime during the week of Feb. 10, a woman went to Sosa’s apartment to pick up a child they have in common.

“As the victim went to the door to get her daughter, she was observed being pulled inside and the door slamming shut,” according to a police affidavit.

On Tuesday, the woman’s father requested that a welfare check be conducted.

“The defendant answered the door for police and stated the two victims were not home and did not allow officers inside,” the affidavit states.

Police returned Wednesday after developing additional information and were met at the door by Sosa who was holding the young girl.

“The juvenile victim spontaneously uttered that ‘Mommy was hiding in the bathroom,’” according to the affidavit.

Once the mother and daughter were separated from Sosa, they told investigators that Sosa “had kept them in the home for the extended period under threats and against their will and in violation of a protective order. The victim specifically described that on the two occasions, police officers responded to the residence to check on the victims, the defendant forced them to hide in the bathroom,” the affidavit says.

Court records show the woman filed for protective orders in both March and August,

“The defendant had been arrested for violating the protective order two previous times within the year and demonstrated an escalating propensity for violence through the offense of kidnapping,” the affidavit states.

Those who experience domestic violence can call police dispatch at 801-799-3000; the 24-hour victim advocate hotline at 801-580-7969; the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233; or the Utah LINKLine at 800-897-5465.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/32ACnUt