Victim of carjacking, abduction rescued at traffic stop

A Salt Lake City woman carjacked and kidnapped was rescued during a routine traffic stop, according to Salt Lake City police.

It happened Friday evening outside an apartment complex along Foothill Drive, where Leslie Wilkey had just parked to visit her daughter.

“I couldn’t even believe it. It was surreal,” Wilkey said.

As she stepped out of her car, Wilkey noticed a man approach her door. Initially, she thought it was her son-in-law, however, she quickly realized it was someone else — a 17 year old male.

“He said, ‘You are giving me a ride, and we are going right now and you will do what I say and don’t give me any problems. I don’t have a problem putting a bullet through you,’” explained Wilkey.

The two spent the next three hours driving all around Salt Lake City, according to Wilkey. They stopped at multiple ATM machines, where Wilkey said he forced her to withdraw as much cash as possible — $200. Eventually, after hours in the city, the man stated he needed to go to Vernal to help a friend. While thought of leaving the area terrified her, Wilkey directed the man to the freeway.

An officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs asked for her identification, per protocol. But when he returned to her door minutes later, Wilkey noticed his demeanor was different.

The officer asked she step out of the car. The man remained inside of it. When they got a few feet away, the officer asked if she was OK and Wilkey quickly told him what happened.

“I appreciate his good work and his hunches his intuition,” Wilkey said. “It saved my life.”

According to Salt Lake City Police, which is handling the case, the 17-year-old is facing charges for kidnapping, robbery and carjacking.