Woman Kidnapped From NorthPark Center
A newly formed couple kidnapped a woman sitting in a van outside Macy’s at NorthPark Center.
According to Dallas police, at around 9 p.m., Wednesday, Minh Nguyen was sitting in her friend’s 2009 Toyota Sienna when Michelle Tortora approached her and struck up a conversation. Shortly after, Tommy Simmons, 29, appeared and struck Nguyen in the face and forced her to get in the back of the van; he threatened to kill her if she didn’t.
The two then drove off to Nacogdoches where Ngyuen managed to escape and find help when the couple stopped for gas. Nacogdoches PD arrived shortly after and arrested the pair.
According to police media relations, Tortora and Simmons have been charged with aggravated kidnapping by Dallas PD and Nacogdoches PD has filed a UUMV case against Simmons. They are both jailed in Nacogdoches on $282,000 bond each.
WFAA has more on the strange bond these two assailants had. Here’s some quick hits:
- Simmons had just been released from prison the day before. He was supposed to be taking a bus to Nacogdoches, but opted to hop off in Dallas.
- Before Wednesday, he had never met his accomplice Tortora. They had a day of getting to know each other during their time at Union Station.
- Together they traveled to NorthPark Center and waited for Nguyen’s friend to walk into Macy’s and then stole the van.
I guess they never heard that the Bonnie-and-Clyde mentality never really panned out well.
I do feel sorry for all of the troubles that NorthPark has with crime, but at the same time,I will not risk my safety to shop there. I guess that kid napping could have happened anywhere – but it happened there. Hope the victim is OK and that scuzzy dude goes away for life.
Any idea on a motive for this strange crime?
Unbelievable!
I’m glad the person was able to escape unharmed and that they caught those idiots!