Man who kidnapped ex off the street before beating her so he could see her phone gets caught after he makes Walmart trip: Police

Background: A Walmart market located in Louisville, Ky. (Google Maps). Inset: Joshua T. Hawthorne (Louisville Metro Government).

A Kentucky man's trip to a Walmart served as a lifeline for his ex-girlfriend, who was able to escape after he kidnapped her and attacked her for days, trying to force her to unlock her phone, authorities say.

Joshua T. Hawthorne, 32, has been charged with first-degree assault tied to domestic violence, kidnapping of an adult, first-degree strangulation tied to domestic violence, first-degree wanton endangerment, and third-degree terroristic threatening.

The defendant is also charged with violating an interpersonal protective order, jail records reviewed by Law&Crime show.

On Aug. 23, a woman was walking in Louisville, Kentucky, when Hawthorne pulled his car up next to her and forced her into the vehicle, according to an arrest citation obtained by local ABC affiliate WHAS. He drove before pulling over and allegedly punching her in the face and strangling her.

The woman was Hawthorne's ex-girlfriend, area CBS affiliate WLKY reported, and the defendant drove them to his home in St. Matthews, Kentucky, just east of Louisville.

They went inside, and Hawthorne reportedly dragged the woman into a closet and left her restrained there. After about an hour, he took her out, cut her hair and clothes, and dragged her by her ankles into another room, the court record stated.

Authorities say he ordered her to unlock her phone, and when she refused, he allegedly struck the phone with a gun and pointed the firearm at her face.

Hawthorne locked the bedroom door and lay next to her the rest of the night, per WHAS.

Three days later, Hawthorne wanted to go to the store, and he ordered the woman to accompany him, according to the citation. He drove to a Walmart market, went inside, and left the woman in the car.

She reportedly managed to escape and found help. The Louisville Metro Police Department was contacted and began investigating. The victim had a black eye, bruises, and a cut on her ankle, and she said Hawthorne had threatened to kill her.

Hawthorne was arrested on Wednesday; he was expected to be arraigned on Thursday.