A missing college student has been found naked and covered in charcoal in the basement of her alleged abductor. He was last seen in surveillance footage about a week later.
Madelyn Allen, 19, was found at the home of 39-year-old suspect Brent Brown, who has since been arrested on kidnapping charges.
Brown also faces charges of obstruction of justice, aggravated kidnapping, rape, and object rape.
Officers spotted a slight, blonde-haired person in the basement of the home, which prompted police to obtain a search warrant, officials told the Salt Lake Tribune.
After police found Madelyn’s Snow College ID card in the residence, they searched the cellar, where the student was found hidden in the coal room.
Court documents indicate Madelyn and Brown met online, in a group chat on the Kik app, and she intended to meet with him on December 13.
Madelyn revealed to police that she had spoken with a user that has the nickname “Cowboy” and agreed to meet up with him.
CCTV footage captured the moment the teen left her dorm. She was wearing a white fleece jacket, and dark skirt and carrying a plastic bag.
Brown allegedly took Madelyn’s wallet and phone and tied her up while he was at work, according to a probable cause affidavit.
He claimed that it was part of “kidnapping role play”.
However, Madelyn said that she was held against her will, didn’t want to have sex with Brown, and was coerced because he threatened her family.
The court affidavit alleges that the man “threatened her, saying if she left or told anyone about him, he would come after her family and sister” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
On the morning of December 14, Madelyn sent her family members a text simply saying that “I love you!” before Brown confiscated her phone.
The out-of-the-blue text prompted Madelyn’s family to contact the police.
Madelyn’s college roommates also reported her disappearance to authorities.
She was reported missing by Wednesday but was found alive on Saturday.
Cellphone towers in Loya helped officers locate Madeleine’s phone, a town of about 500 people, about ninety miles from the Snow College dormitory in Ephraim.
Madelyn’s dad Jonathan Allen told the Salt Lake Tribune: “We got the phone, and [the police chief] said ‘I have her’. We dropped to our knees.
“We were so grateful, elated. We couldn’t describe the feelings that we had as we embraced each other.”
Mother Taunya says they are thrilled to have their Madeleine home. She loves her so much, and Madely has been such a light and joy in her life. She also said that “We are so grateful that we can continue our lives together with her, and uncle Jacob said: “We are grateful she is with us again so she can recover.”
