Lehi man allegedly kidnaps, rapes ex-girlfriend

LEHI — A Lehi man has been booked into jail after police say he kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and kept her locked in his van for 12 hours on Wednesday, where he sexually assaulted her.

Documents filed in 3rd District Court state that while being attacked, the victim bit her 58-year-old attacker several times and smacked a propane lamp against him in an attempt to escape. The victim told police she managed to escape once while completely naked but was forced back into the van.

About 12 hours later she was allowed to leave but left behind her shoes and underwear in her haste to escape any further abuse, according to the probable cause statement.

In a recorded phone conversation, the man told the woman, "I'm sorry! I just took a month and a half of anger and frustration out on you and I should never have done it."

With a search warrant, police found evidence of the woman's belongings in the suspect's van, along with the damaged propane lamp. The suspect told detectives the sexual encounter was consensual but confirmed his ex-girlfriend had hit him with the propane lamp.

The man was booked into Utah County Jail for investigation of kidnapping, rape and assault.

— Lana Groves