A missing Arizona woman who was allegedly kidnapped by a man posing as an Uber driver was rescued after she passed a chilling note to a customer at a gas station begging for help, authorities said. The woman, who was abducted in the Phoenix area on Monday, was reunited with her family after authorities arrested Jacob Wilhoit, 41, on Wednesday in Seligman, Arizona. Wilhoit, who was taken into custody without incident, faces charges of threatening, aggravated assault, unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, and other crimes.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the victim’s mother had identified Wilhoit as a person of interest when she reported her daughter missing earlier on Wednesday. The woman was allegedly abducted after Wilhoit, wearing a wig, posed as a ride-share driver and picked her up at a car dealership. Wilhoit then restrained the woman as they drove to Las Vegas and spent the night at a park.
The woman managed to slip a handwritten note to a customer at a Chevron station in Seligman, approximately 170 miles north of Phoenix. The note read, “Help. Call 911.” It also provided a description of the vehicle, a blue Honda van, and mentioned that they were heading towards Kingman and Las Vegas. The customer immediately dialed 911, providing authorities with crucial information.
Law enforcement officers stopped the van on Interstate 40 and discovered multiple guns in plain view. It remains unclear whether Wilhoit has legal representation at this time.
