COON RAPIDS, Minn. – (Feb. 11, 2016) – Horror unfolded for a Coon Rapids woman as a violent ex-boyfriend kidnapped her in the middle of the night, strangled her, and beat her according to a criminal complaint.
Russell Wayne Melanson has been charged with multiple felonies following the kidnapping late last month. The complaint states that the victim awoke to find Melanson in her home holding a black belt. He put it around her neck until she lost consciousness.
She awoke in the back seat of her car, duct taped and restrained while Melanson was driving. The following day she woke up in her home. She does not have memories of most of the time she was missing.
A friend brought her to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Later, in a text message, Melanson told her where she could find her vehicle.
