• Victim was defending fiancé’s child, officials said.
Two women are under secured bonds after allegedly beating and pepper spraying a woman, dragging her down a highway and running over her with a car while kidnapping a child.
Elizabeth Harris, 26, of Whiteville, sustained multiple broken bones, a torn aorta and internal injuries in the June 26 assault, according to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Jim McVicker said Harris was injured trying to protect a seven-year-old child. She was at the Clarkton home of her fiancé, Angelo Adams, when Niakea Thomas, 25, and Dahquaisha Rasberry, both of Greensboro, went to the home. Thomas is the child’s mother, according to the BCSO, but did not have permission to see the child.
Adams had gone to a store and left the child with Harris and Adams’ brother Anthony, McVicker said. Shortly after Adams left, Anthony heard a knock at the door, “and when he opened the door the child’s mother, Niakea, was standing there.”
Anthony Adams closed the door and warned Harris. Thomas then forced her way inside and dragged the child to a waiting car, driven by Rasberry, McVicker said.
“Ms. Harris came out of the house and in an attempt to grab the child she leaned into the open passenger side window,” McVicker said. “She was grabbed by Thomas and the and was repeatedly hit in the head with fists while they drove away.”
Harris was then sprayed in the face with pepper spray — which also came in contact with the kidnapping victim and another minor in the car.
“She was dragged down Highway 211 for two-tenths of a mile before she was released,” McVicker said.
Harris’ ribs were broken in multiple places, she sustained a punctured lung, and her aorta was torn along with numerous other internal and external injuries to include broken hips and abrasions, McVicker said. She was both dragged and run over by the car after the suspects released her.
Rasberry and Thomas went into hiding, McVicker said. Thomas was arrested Friday by U.S. Marshals in Rocky Mount. The seven-year-old was with her at the time, and was unharmed. Thomas was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. She is being held under a $100,000 bond.
On Monday, Rasberry was located in in a Greensboro hotel, and arrested by the marshals. Rasberry was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and placed a $250,000 bond in Bladen County Detention Center.
The child was reunited with her father last Friday, McVicker said. She had been living with her father for the past six years.
“I am sure there will be additional charges in this case,” said Sheriff McVicker. My Investigator(Andrea DiCiccio) as well as the U.S. Marshalls worked tirelessly to locate the child and bring these two to justice. I am glad we were able to rescue the child and the victim is now home and recovering from her injuries. She has a long road to recovery but has the support of her family. Ms. Harris is a very brave woman.”
