BENTONVILLE, Ark. — One person has been arrested after a reported kidnapping at a Walmart in Bentonville on Monday.
A release from the Bentonville Police Department (BPD) said that on Nov. 11, officers responded to reports of a kidnapping at the Walmart on 406 S Walton Blvd. After an investigation, detectives located and arrested 20-year-old Marco Morales.
Morales is currently being held in the Benton County Jail on a $500,000 bond and faces charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threatening, rape, and kidnapping. He is expected in court on Jan. 6, 2025.
BPD said the investigation is still ongoing and that the incident was isolated. Investigators said that Morales appeared to have targeted a random victim.
Additionally, police are encouraging anyone with "related information or concerning encounters" with Morales to contact law enforcement.
Court documents filed on Nov. 13 shed more light:
A probable cause affidavit detailed that on Nov. 11, a BPD detective was dispatched for a rape call at the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Upon reaching the sheriff's office, the detective made contact with someone who was "immediately emotional," and had blood on her chest and a laceration on her forehead.
Court documents said that the victim was transported to the NWA Sexual Assault Center. She told detectives that she went to the Walmart Supercenter in Bentonville. While leaving the store, she heard someone talking on the phone and when she looked over, she saw a man in a dark hoodie and a ski mask.
She continued to her vehicle and got into the driver's seat, court documents said. The masked man then jumped into the passenger seat and showed a gun, telling her to stay calm and that he didn't want to hurt her and instructing her to drive.
The affidavit said that the victim followed directions from the masked man and ended up in the parking lot at 1302 Melissa Dr. The man then allegedly hit the victim and ordered her out of the vehicle. She exited and tried to run away but he pointed the gun at her and threatened to shoot.
After returning to the car, he instructed her to get blindfolded and undressed. Court documents said that the man proceeded to rape the victim, later ordering her to take him back to Walmart.
The affidavit said that once back at Walmart, the man threw the victim's phone out of the car and advised that someone would be following her and that she shouldn't go to the police.
Detectives were able to utilize video footage from Walmart to identify the suspect's vehicle, and a local car dealership was able to identify the car's owner as Morales, according to court documents.
Morales was later located and arrested at Wing Stop in Rogers on Nov. 12. A search warrant has been signed and approved for Morales' house, car, and DNA, court documents added.
Morales said during an interview with police that he wasn't at Walmart, but after being shown video evidence of him present there, he admitted to going there to buy marijuana and ended the interview.
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