A Canadian man has been arrested in West Virginia in connection with a kidnapping and sexual assault investigation in Ohio.
Arrest details
Austin Dubois, 26, was arrested Tuesday during a traffic stop along U.S. Route 50 in Grafton, West Virginia, according to a news release from the West Virginia State Police. Troopers across four West Virginia counties had been searching for Dubois, looking for a blue Chevrolet Cruz tied to an Ohio kidnapping.
Charges filed
Dubois, from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, was charged with kidnapping in Taylor County, West Virginia, and malicious assault and first- and second-degree sexual assault in Ohio's Harrison County, as reported by WDTV.
Court documents indicate that the victim told investigators Dubois held her against her will, sexually assaulted her, stabbed her in the leg, and bit her all over her body.
Accused's statements to police
Dubois later told police he illegally entered the United States on foot in Washington state before traveling by bus to the victim's home. He detailed that he entered the residence, hid in the basement and attic over two days, then attacked the woman and forced her to leave with him, according to the outlet. He also admitted to threatening to hurt her if she tried to escape or refused sex.
Legal proceedings
Dubois is currently held without bond at West Virginia's Tygart Valley Regional Jail and Correctional Facility. Troopers say criminal charges are pending in Harrison County, West Virginia, and in Ohio. Dubois could also face federal charges. The investigation remains ongoing.
