Rodney Helton
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. – The suspect wanted in the kidnapping and assault of a Gaston County woman has been arrested.
According to a Stanley Police Department, officers from various departments were determined to keep looking for 21 year old Rodney Helton, Jr., despite a strong line of thunderstorms that moved through the area Sunday evening.
Police say Helton kidnapped a woman, drove her to the Stanley neighborhood and slit her throat. During the search police were urging residents to stay inside their home and be on the lookout.
Police received a 911 call at 1:15 p.m. from Helton’s grandmother. She told dispatchers when she returned home from church, her grandson had a woman bound in her house, said Capt. Suzanne Mauney-Smith with Gaston County Police.
“She saw a female in the residence bound by her wrists,” Mauney-Smith said. “The suspect, Helton, left with the female in the female’s car.”
Stanley Police found the car in the Creekwalk subdivision. Shortly afterward the woman was discovered running from the woods and bleeding.
She had cuts to her neck, Mauney-Smith said.
The woman, who has not been identified, was alive and transported to a hospital around 1:30 p.m. Mauney-Smith said the victim was semi-conscious at the time she was found.
Police believe Helton left the woman’s vehicle at the neighborhood and ran into the woods.
Police secured a large perimeter of the neighborhood, between Highway 27 and Kelly Road, Greene said.
Residents of the area were urged to remain on the lookout.
Police officers patrolled the area with guns and several K-9 units were on the scene.
Police have not described the relationship between Helton and the woman.
Helton was last seen wearing a T-shirt and camouflage shorts.
Helton was apprehended while hiding along Kelly Road. He is being transported to the Gaston County Jail. He is now facing a slew of charges including rape and attempted murder.
Helton has a history of arrests in Gaston County, including three in the past three years. His most recent arrests were for breaking and entering and larceny.
