Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Amanda Butterfield reportingAn upset ex-girlfriend, money and drugs: That's what Iron County deputies say motivated the kidnapping and beating of a teenager from Northern Utah.
One of the suspects, Shawn Lewis Clark of Cedar City, has been caught, but the others are still on the loose. Clark has not been charged with anything at this time.
Here are the names of those suspected to be involved: The ex-girlfriend Tiffany Nichole Nelson, Enoch, Utah, Gary Hart Clearfield, Shawn Lewis Clark, Cedar City, and Joseph Nicholas Godfrey, who is 18 years old.
Law enforcement authorities from multiple states are looking for the remaining suspects in connection with the abduction and assault that began in Northern Utah, and ended in Iron County.
A 17-year-old boy was threatened at knifepoint, thrown into the trunk of a car and beaten. He managed to escape this ordeal.
Deputies say the suspects were driving a 1998 red Honda Accord.
The victim says the suspects shoved him in the trunk of that car and drove to the Three Parks Recreational area. It's about 12 miles northwest of Cedar City.
The teen says the suspects tied him up and gagged him. He was able to escape ...but the suspects chased him in their car.
Det. Sgt. Jody Edwards/ Iron County Sheriff's Office: "They caught up to him again at that location. They proceeded to assault him again to a great degree."
The teen says he was hit in the face with rocks and kicked in the head and stomach. He says the woman held a knife to his throat and threatened to kill him.
Police say the suspects claimed the teen had stolen drugs from them and owed them 200 dollars. The teen endured the severe beating and managed to escape again. Barefoot, he ran a mile to a house and called 9-1-1.
Authories found one of the suspects, a man, whose name they will not release, at a home in Enoch. That man confessed he was involved, then provided information on the others.
Authorities know who they are, it's just a matter of finding them. They've recruited help from several agencies across several states.
Det. Sgt. Jody Edwards: "You know who you are. Please take the opportunity to do the right thing. Think about what's taken place so far."
All suspects face aggravated kidnapping and assault charges. The victim was taken to a hospital in Cedar City. He was released to his mother last night and is in good condition, this morning.
