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Wisconsin woman facing multiple charges after allegedly holding man captive for more than 2 months

LA CROSSE, Wis. — A Wisconsin woman has been charged with kidnapping and a host of related charges after allegedly holding a man against his will and physically assaulting him during a 2-and-a-half-month period.

In addition to kidnapping, Lori Anne Holton, 56, was charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon, intentionally subjecting an individual to risk/abuse, false imprisonment, strangulation/suffocation, operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and theft, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

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According to the criminal complaint, the unidentified older male was subjected to Holton’s alleged abuse between late June and early September 2020, WXOW reported.

The victim stated in the complaint that he spent a great deal of time held in one room of a residence, and when he was not locked in that room, Holton “used threats of torture and to kill him and his family if he ever came out of the room.”

The man also told investigators, as stated in the complaint, that there was a man who spoke to him on the phone who “told him to let Lori do whatever she wants because she is very important to the agency.” Holton had previously told the victim she was with the CIA, FBI and Army Rangers, WXOW reported.

In addition, video surveillance, recovered by authorities, documented some of the abuse the victim suffered, and West Salem Police Officer Brett Myers itemized the abuses in the complaint as being beaten, burned with cigarettes and shocked with a stun gun, the TV station reported.

Myers also stated in the complaint that the victim was struck 97 times, kicked 10 times, elbowed 4 times, tased 15 times, choked 3 times, “had knife held to his throat, hot coffee thrown on him and spat on” between June 22 and Sept. 7.

During captivity, the man said Holton took his credit cards and used them to make personal purchases. He said Holton also took his vehicle, an iPad, an iPhone and laptop computer, estimating the value of the four items at $2,000. In addition, the man estimated Holton took about $20,000 from his business but promised to pay him back after she was elected president, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

Documents filed with the Federal Election Commission show that in October 2019, Holton filed a Statement of Candidacy to run as an independent candidate for president, WXOW reported.

Police issued a warrant for Holton’s arrest Oct. 9, but according to the Wisconsin State Journal, she reportedly fled to Minneapolis in the man’s vehicle before returning to West Salem after the man’s son discovered his father’s condition in early September. Holton was arrested Jan. 19 by West Salem police.