Three people have been charged in connection with a September kidnapping and assault in Missouri, according to St. Louis County authorities.

The alleged assault occurred between Sept. 13 and Sept. 19 in Wildwood, a city about 30 miles west of St. Louis, according to the St. Louis County Police Department, which is leading the investigation.

Two of the people involved, Melissa Faix and Robert Crutcher, both 36, went to the victim’s home in mid-September, where they saw another man named Cejay Young pistol-whip the victim, authorities said in a statement. press release.

Faix and Crutcher are accused of stealing two ATVs from the home, as well as a 9mm handgun, police said. The couple took the items to Crutcher’s home, where authorities found the ATVs. Faix’s vehicle was also on the property and police found the gun inside, they said in a news release.

Faix and Crutcher, both convicted felons, were charged last Wednesday, police said. Faix was charged with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, while Crutcher was charged with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of theft of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. .

But the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office said another man was involved, Cejay Young. He was charged Sept. 20 with one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree robbery and first-degree robbery. authorities said.

It was unclear Monday morning who is representing the trio in court.

Victim was beaten every day for nearly a week, probable cause statement shows

Authorities said the incident began on Sept. 12 when someone the victim knew let Young into their home. The next day, the victim noticed his credit cards and $100 was missing from his wallet, according to a probable cause statement.

Later that day, Young began punching the victim, then pulled out a gun and pointed it at him, according to the release. According to the statement, Young forced the victim to go to the bathroom and told him that if he came out he would kill him.

The defendant then had two other people come and take items from the victim, including weapons. Young also allegedly destroyed the victim’s television, five laptops and other items. According to the statement, Young did not let the victim leave or call police.

In. On Sept. 19, police were investigating a different crime and showed up at the victim’s home, according to the release. The victim then told police there was a man in his home who was holding him hostage. The man said he would kill the victim and his dogs, according to the statement.

An officer called for backup and that’s when Young fled the scene. The agents chased him for more than 3 hours. Once caught, Young admitted he ran from police, authorities said.

According to the release, Young spent the nearly week-long incident punching the victim and, at one point, the victim’s nose was bleeding and Young forced him to clean up the blood. He is also accused of forcing the victim to take pills at night to help him sleep, the statement said.

Before police arrived at the victim’s home, Young told him he would take him to an ATM to withdraw money and “maybe we won’t kill him,” the probable cause statement said.

Young is being held without bail, while Faix and Crutcher are being held on $250,000 cash-only bail.

Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia. – 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or send an email to [email protected].

This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Three charged in alleged kidnapping and robbery in Wildwood, Missouri