Wheaton College student kidnapped; 1 charged, 2 at large
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (WLS) -- One person is charged and two more offenders are at large after a Wheaton College student was kidnapped on Aug. 26 and held for what prosecutors called "an hour and a half of terror."
Abeet Ramos, 18, appeared in court Friday to faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated unlawful restraint. He allegedly acted as the getaway driver for the kidnapping.
Prosecutors said a 21-year-old male student was coming out of a Glenn Ellyn Starbucks around 10 a.m. on Friday Aug. 26, coffee in hand, when he was forced into a vehicle at gunpoint by Ramos, 23-year-old Jeremy Jones and an unnamed 17-year-old. Prosecutors said Ramos acted as the getaway driver after the kidnapping.
The victim, who has not been named, was robbed of his wallet, debit cards and iPhone, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said the victim was then ordered to tell the kidnappers his phone passcode and disable "Find My iPhone" so he could not be trapped.
"He was forced to lay down on the floor of the car while one of the offenders actually kneeled on his back to keep him down," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.
The kidnappers then drove him to various places in Glen Ellyn and Chicago, including mulitple banks to use the victim's debit card to withdraw a total of $1,600. The State's Attorney said the kidnappers then gave the victim $20 and his iPhone and dropped him off in Chicago, at which point the victim immediately went to the police.
Ramos is being held on $3 million bond. Authorities said at the time of the kidnapping he was out on bond in connection with an armed robbery in Kane County.
Authorities said Ramos was identified after the vehicle was spotted by traffic cameras. Police are still searching for Jones and the unnamed juvenile, but the State's Attorney said they have also already been charged with armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated unlawful restraint.
Police are asking for help locating the suspects still at large, but said the public should consider them armed and dangerous. Police said Jones' last known address was in Chicago.
"It's important that swift action was taken to bring at least one of the offenders, and we're confident with the help of the public we'll be able to bring the other offenders into custody shortly," said Glen Ellyn Police Chief Philip Norton.
Glen Ellyn residents are shocked that such a terrifying encounter could happen in their community.
"Quiet neighborhood. Really safe. It was really shocking to hear about it. In fact, I thought 'there's no way,'" said resident Andrea Knapp.
Wheaton College released a statement Friday thanking the Glen Ellyn Police Department for their work and saying, in part, "The Glen Ellyn Police Department believes that this student was the victim of a random attack and does not believe there is an ongoing threat to the campus community. We are thankful the student was not physically harmed and are committed to his ongoing support needs. The Wheaton College Department of Public Safety has been working closely with the Glen Ellyn Police Department to assist in their investigation."
The college said it did not issue an alert about the kidnapping until after an arrest had been made at the request of the police to protect the investigation.
