The US accuses a man of holding a woman captive for almost a year. She escaped and sought help at a station.

According to the state attorney general, the woman fled the New Jersey store on 7 February and claimed she was kidnapped.

Security footage showed the woman running into a petrol station and locking it, with a man following.

Officials told NBC News that James Parrillo Jr was charged with kidnapping and strangulation, aggravated assault and aggravated assault and criminal restraint.

Advertisement

According to the broadcaster, the 57-year old is currently being held in custody pending trial.

Matthew Platkin, Attorney General, said that this was a disturbing case. The defendant allegedly held a woman captive for almost a year while she traveled with her across the country before arriving in New Jersey, where she was able escape.

Police have not revealed the identity of the woman, who said she met Parrillo Jr at a New Mexico petrol station in February 2013 and asked for a ride to Arizona.

Parrillo allegedly attacked her in California a month after they were first in a relationship. She felt unable and unwilling to leave, the attorney general’s Office said.

Parrillo allegedly took the woman’s phone, credit and debit cards and kept them from her family.

After being allegedly choked, and then assaulted, she fled their Burlington County home on 7 February.

According to a New Jersey State Police report filed in court, the woman had marks on her neck.

According to the statement, she claimed that she was held against her will for one year and that Parrillo refused to let her contact her family.

Jamie Garthaus works at the station where the woman entered. He told NBC that the lady ran, like barefoot and that she was like, he kidnapped’.

“So we ran in and locked the door.”

NBC News reported that a lawyer representing Parrillo couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.