A woman in Brookings was able to escape after being kidnapped at Oakwood Lakes State Park. 22-year-old Jasmine Benning of Sioux Falls was sitting in a vehicle just before 4:30 on Sunday morning with two friends when a blue Jeep pulled up behind them. A male suspect identified as 23-year-old Alexander Felipe Andrade of Sioux Falls exited the Jeep with a machete and approached the victim’s vehicle, striking it with the weapon. He reached in and forcefully removed Benning. Andrade forced her into the vehicle he was driving and left the scene.
SDSU Police located the suspect vehicle on the Highway 14 bypass near Brookings and pursued it for several miles on Interstate 29, then onto Highway 324 before losing contact. Sioux Falls Police later located the vehicle in that city and began a pursuit. That chase was ended for safety reasons. The suspect vehicle was located minutes later after it had run out of gas. Benning was able to get away and call police.
Andrade, who faces several charges including kidnapping, fled on foot and is still at large. He and the victim had been in a previous relationship.
A female identified as 29-year-old Ashle Heier of Brookings was allegedly in the suspect vehicle with Andrade at the time of the kidnapping. Heier was located, interviewed and released by police.
(Thanks to Perry Miller at KJJQ News)