News
Update: Xenia Couple Spotted In SE Ohio
By: WOUB Staff Writer
Posted on:
Update 2:30 pm
Police in Xenia say a man and the woman he abducted have been spotted in Vinton, Jackson and Lawrence Counties in the last 24 hours.
Investigators say the stolen Silver Impala Mark Ferguson, 24, stole after taking Melissa Ferguson, 22, from a Xenia hotel broke down in Lawrence County.
The Impala has now been recovered by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and impounded.
Police believe that the two are still in the Southeastern Ohio Area.
Witnesses have seen the female victim with Ferguson but police don't know if she's being held against her will.
A car that was stolen after a man allegedly abducted his ex-wife at knife point was found in Lawrence County overnight.
Police in Xenia, Ohio, say that 24-year-old Mark Ferguson took Melissa Johnson, 22, of Jackson County, Ohio from her hotel Sunday morning. They say he then stole a 2003 Silver Chevrolet Impala.
Several hours after the alleged abduction, the pair was spotted in Vinton County, where investigators say Ferguson once lived and still has relatives.
Lawrence County, Ohio Sheriff Jeff Lawless says the car was found abandoned about 1:00 a.m. today along State Route 93 near County Road 4 in the Pedro area.
Lawless says deputies searched the area, but were unable to locate Ferguson or Johnson.
The car was impounded and the sheriff is now waiting on BCI to arrive to search it for evidence.
On Monday, investigators said the pair could be in Vinton, Jackson or Gallia counties.
Police in the Xenia say they believe Johnson is in danger. They said Ferguson has been violent in the past.
They also said he has an outstanding warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911.