Ohio
Ohio polygamist allegedly ordered her husband and 4 lovers to kidnap, torture man for a week in sick revenge plot
An Ohio polygamist, her husband and her four lovers were thrown behind bars after they allegedly kidnapped and tortured a 26-year-old man held captive in a hotel room for a week – in a sick revenge scheme hatched by the group’s twisted matriarch.
Martina Jones, 28; her husband Michael Esqueda, 28; and boyfriends Aaron Bradshaw, 49; Austin Bradshaw, 28; David Cessna, 26; and Chance Johnston, 27, were arrested on March 22 for terrorizing the victim at a Red Roof Inn in Maumee, according to the Toledo Police Department, WTVG reported.
The deranged lovers, who reportedly share multiple children, brutally beat the victim with a metal baseball bat, forced him to stand for extended periods of time, and only allowed him to eat and drink once a day over the seven-day stretch, police said.
The victim, who was also viciously punched and kicked, only slept for a total of 10 hours while he was held against his will, charging documents alleged.
“He was being essentially tortured, assaulted, over the time frame of a week,” Maumee Chief of Police Josh Sprow told the outlet.
“His injuries were results of being struck with a baseball bat, struck with fists, elbows, stomping on him when he was on the ground – which over time resulted in multiple fractured bones.”
Sprow added that Jones ordered her deviant beaus to abduct the victim on March 14 and carry out the nightmarish scheme as retribution following a scuffle at her home, the outlet reported.
The victim told police a dog fight erupted at the crazed woman’s home that resulted in her breaking her arm as the pair tried to stop the brawl. Jones, however, lied and told her unhinged companions that the man crippled her limb, police said.
The tortured man was eventually rescued on March 21 when his captors let him venture to a Speedway convenience store, where he was able to speak with someone who then called his mother, according to police.
“When she was contacted by this literally a stranger – she knew something was up,” Sprow said, adding that the victim’s mother raced to the hotel room and freed her son, whose body was littered with injuries, the outlet reported.
“It’s clearly a strange situation when you have multiple adult men involved in a relationship with a female and then this whole felonious assault, kidnapping taking place. Definitely not something that is normally happening in our city.”
The six suspects were each indicted Thursday for kidnapping, three counts of felonious assault and two counts of tampering with evidence, according to Fox8.
They are each being held on $200,000 bond.
Snow hits downtown Columbus
Snow falls outside the Ohio Theatre as downtown Columbus turns into a winter wonderland.
Columbus City Schools is closing Monday, Dec. 15, after a weekend winter storm dumped more than 5.4 inches of snow on the region and cold temperatures descended.
Following the weekend snowfall, a cold weather advisory was issued for the area, to remain in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15.
It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.
Late on Dec. 14, CCS posted it would close Dec. 15 “due to inclement weather.” See more school closings at NBC 4 or check back with the Dispatch throughout the morning.
This list will be updated as additional information becomes available. School districts are encouraged to send an email with any delays or closures to newsroom@dispatch.com.
Snow hits downtown Columbus
Snow falls outside the Ohio Theatre as downtown Columbus turns into a winter wonderland.
Now comes the cold.
After nearly 5½ inches of snow fell Dec. 13 in some parts of central Ohio, the National Weather Service says bitterly cold temperatures moving into the region will mean highs in just the single digits.
A cold weather advisory is in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15. It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.
Temperatures to the west and south are even colder: 1 degree in Springfield, minus-1 in Dayton and minus-3 in Indianapolis. Those temperatures are not expected in the Columbus area, though. The forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures by evening and highs in the low 20s Dec. 15.
The record cold expected for Dec. 14 — until now, the coldest high temperature in Columbus for this date was 16 degrees in 1917 — follows a day of record snow. The weather service recorded 5.4 inches of snowfall on Dec. 13 at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, topping the prior Dec. 13 record, which was 3.6 inches in 1945.
Level 2 snow emergencies, which means roads are hazardous and people should drive only if they think it’s necessary, remained in effect in Fairfield and Licking counties.
Level 1 snow emergencies are in effect in Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Union and Pickaway counties.
Bob Vitale can be reached at rvitale@dispatch.com.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio State’s game-winning play over West Virginia in the second overtime period Saturday night was simple: give the ball to Bruce Thornton and get out of his way.
The result was an 89-88 double overtime win in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.
It took so much to get to this moment.
The Buckeyes did all they could in regulation to overcome a 14-point deficit, while awaiting their top player in Thornton to come through.
His teammates did the dirty work to keep them in the game. From their defense creating transition points, matching the Mountaineers’ physical brand of ball.
Once extra time came after the first 40 minutes expired, Thornton took care of the rest in the two overtime periods.
He delivered bucket after another.
None more important than the final one.
A tightly covered Thornton took it down to the top of the key before finding a mismatch and looking to take it to the hole. A defender cut off his path, however, forcing Thornton to operate elsewhere in the paint.
Thornton used his pivot foot wisely before finding an opening for a fadeaway jumper and knocking it down.
Twelve of his 21 points came in the overtime periods.
Ohio State fought to the end and earned a win over a hard-nosed Big 12 opponent.
Center Christoph Tilly did his best to limit the Mountaineers’ big men, while adding 14 points and 11 boards of his own.
Freshman big man Amare Bynum was a pivotal spark off the bench with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Point guard John Mobley Jr. finished with 17 points and delivered the 3-point shot in the final seconds of the second half to give them their first lead since the 9:00 mark of the first half.
This story will be updated.
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