6 days ago
Aniah's law holds man accused of abducting pregnant girlfriend; she jumped from car to escape
OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – A Georgia man accused of abducting and threatening to kill his pregnant girlfriend is now behind bars in the Lee County Detention Center—held without bond after District Judge Steven Speakman ruled the defendant poses a serious threat to the public and his victim. The alleged incident happened in 2024, but he was just extradited from Georgia this week after resolving other charges.
Eric Shorter, 28, is charged with first-degree kidnapping for a March 2024 incident which allegedly triggered a multi-county, two-state manhunt. The woman, who was six weeks pregnant with Shorter's child at the time, told investigators she feared for her life as Shorter allegedly pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her during a terrifying drive which only ended when she jumped from a moving car to escape sustaining serious injuries.
Investigators say the ordeal began earlier on March 16, 2024, when the couple got into an argument at Seohan Automotive, located at Innovation Drive in Auburn. During the dispute, Shorter allegedly broke the ignition in the woman's vehicle. Auburn Police responded, but no arrests were made.
Later that night, around 10:30 p.m., investigators say the woman was trying to repair her car outside a residence in Opelika when Shorter returned. She says he was armed with a handgun and forced her into his dark-colored Buick. According to her statement, Shorter said, 'This is it. I'm going to kill you.'
She told investigators she begged him to spare her, reminding him she was pregnant with his child. But Shorter allegedly told her he didn't care and he was going to 'end it.'
Fearing for her life, the woman jumped from the moving vehicle near Highway 80 and Lee Road 179 in Crawford, Russell County. A witness nearby told deputies she was sitting in her car at a church across from the Dollar General, sending a text message, when she heard a loud 'thud.'
'I looked up and saw a woman rolling on the side of the road and a black passenger car speeding away,' the witness reported. 'I ran out to help her, and she told me she was in danger and asked me to take her back to Opelika,' the witness told investigators.
The good samaritan took the woman He's with to a nearby residence, where she was met by Lee County Sheriff's deputies. First responders noted she had severe road rash on her arms, legs, stomach, and forehead, along with multiple lacerations on her hands and face. She also complained of chest pain. She was transported to East Alabama Medical Center for treatment.
Following the incident, law enforcement across Alabama and Georgia launched a coordinated effort to locate Shorter. Deputies with the Russell County Sheriff's Office spotted his vehicle near Highway 80 and Barrow Road in Phenix City. When they attempted to stop him, Shorter allegedly fled, leading them on a high-speed chase into Georgia before crashing. He was arrested and held in the Muscogee County Jail on felony fleeing charges.
The court ruled no condition of release could ensure the safety of the victim or public, citing Shorter's violent criminal history, the use of a deadly weapon, the serious nature of the alleged offense, his flight through multiple jurisdictions, and the risk of future harm.
'This type of behavior will not be tolerated,' Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said. 'The defendant endangered not only a pregnant woman, but also the public and law enforcement at large. This is a prime example of how the Lee County Sheriff's Office works with agencies across jurisdictional boundaries to protect the public. We are thankful he will remain in jail until trial. That's where he needs to be.'
Shorter remains in the Lee County Detention Facility with no bond. A trial date has not yet been announced.
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