Thomas Barker (from left), Joshua Holby and Steven Powers
A kidnapped Minnesota teen bravely swam across a lake to safety from her abductors after nearly a month in captivity.
Jasmine Block, 15, was reunited with her family this week after she disappeared from her Alexandria home in August, news station WCCO reported.
Three men were arrested in connection to her disappearance. Police identified the suspects as Thomas Barker, 32; Joshua Holby, 31; and Steven Powers, 20.
Authorities said that the 15-year-old was acquainted with at least one of the suspects.
Barker reportedly convinced the teen to get in a car on Aug. 8 and brought her to a Carlos home, where she was repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted.
“Barker tied her up with zip ties and then he, his roommate, and friend over the next several weeks assaulted her and threatened her with weapons,” Alexandria Police Chief Rick Wyffels said.
On Tuesday afternoon, the captors left the teen alone for the first time and she made her escape, news station KARE reported.
The 15-year-old went to several homes for help, but no one answered so she swam across Thompson Lake.
Once to shore, she ran to a farm where a man called 911.
The teen was taken to a hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.
http://nypost.com/2017/09/06/teen-held-captive-for-a-month-swims-across-lake-to-escape-kidnappers/