California Woman Held Hostage Rescued by Bill Collector

A woman that had been held in her home against her will for three days was rescued Wednesday morning by authorities who were tipped off by a person making a chance debt collection visit to the location.

An ex-boyfriend of a Victorville, Calif. woman had been holding her in her home for three days when an employee of a local car dealership made a visit to the home to inquire about late car payments, according to Los Angeles TV station KTLA. The victim answered the door, and when the collector notice bruises and scratches on the woman’s face, asked if she was in trouble.

The woman indicated that she was being held at gunpoint and the collector notified police once she left the residence. San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies intervened a short time later and arrested suspect Miguel Rios on charges of false imprisonment.

The car dealership employee went to the woman’s home after repeated attempts to contact her via phone to discuss missed payments that were unsuccessful.

Rios had apparently beaten and bit the victim after an argument and had been holding her in her home since Sunday, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department statement.