POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - An Amelia County man accused of abducting and severely beating a Powhatan woman was ordered held withoud bond Friday.
29-year-old James Wolfe, Sr. was arrested Thursday. At his arraignment, a judge set a March 16th date for a preliminary hearing. The court also appointed an attorney for Wolfe.
Sheriff's deputies said a man broke in to the victim's home late Wednesday night and beat the woman with a metal bar and cut her with a large knife.
According to investigators, the suspect forced the victim out of her house, drove her along Route 60 and made her withdraw money from a Chesterfield county ATM.
Wolfe shattered the victim’s car window to look for a house key said investigators. When he didn’t find it, he forced his way into her house.
He then left the victim on the side of the road. Some passersby saw the victim stumbling along Midlothian Turnpike and called police.
The Powhatan Sheriff's Office said that around 11:00 p.m. they were informed by Chesterfield Police that a severely beaten woman had been found along Route 60 in Chesterfield County.
She was taken to a hospital, where she’s listed in serious condition. The woman has cuts and bruises all over her body, a broken arm and possible skull fracture.
The nightmare didn’t stop there. The woman also told investigators that her abductor set fire to her home.
Neighbors were shocked that the beating, robbery and abduction all went down on such a quiet strip.
"It's pretty freaky that something like that happened right next door,” said Daniel Headley. "My thoughts and prayers are with the lady and her family,”
After the Wolfe abandoned the victim, he continued east, stopping at a convenience store in Amelia. A customer spotted blood on his clothing and called 911. Police had broadcast a description of his vehicle across the state.
That tip and the victim's description of the suspect and his car helped authorities quickly arrest
Wolfe.
A local woman remembered spotting Wolfe, looking “outraged,” on Tuesday. He was in the Powhatan Plaza Shopping Center right across the street from the victim's home, with an infant baby girl.
"I just said, ‘I know that face, I know that face.’" “He sat the baby down on the concrete and he was pacing and smoking.”
Now, that Wolfe is in custody, people living in the community said they feel safe. Investigators have not yet released any information about a connection between the victim and the suspect.
Wolfe is being held without bond and will be arraigned in Powhatan General District Court on Friday.
He is charged with Breaking and Entering with the intent to commit robbery, Robbery, Abduction, Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Arson in Powhatan County. He also faced a Robbery in Chesterfield County.
