Washington teen accused of kidnapping great-grandmother

PORTLAND — A Washington teenager has been accused of abducting his great-grandmother, stuffing her in the trunk of her car and driving more than 200 miles to a Wal-Mart near Portland.

The woman’s 16-year-old great-grandson enlisted the help of a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy to kidnap her. Police say the boy threw dirt in her face, put an apron on her head and tied her hands before putting her in the trunk on Monday.

While the teens went into the Wal-Mart, the 86-year-old Kennewick woman untied her hands and escaped the trunk, finding a store employee who called police.

The two boys are being charged as adults. They appeared Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court on suspicion of first- and second-degree kidnapping, second-degree robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and reckless endangering. The girl also is in custody at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center.

The two boys told investigators that they considered releasing the woman 3 miles into a canyon or knocking her unconscious, killing her and burning the car to destroy evidence, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The girl told investigators they teens wanted to run away to Portland and that one boy had an idea to use his great-grandmother’s car.

The great-grandmother was not injured and turned down medical treatment when deputies responded early Tuesday morning. The Wal-Mart where she escaped gave her new clothes and food.