Kidnapping Charges Dropped After State Can't Find Victim In Police Pursuit

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- In August, Sky Eye Chopper 13 followed a dramatic pursuit through Baltimore and its nearby suburbs in a suspected abduction case.

After the 25-minute high-speed pursuit, the driver slammed into a southwest Baltimore home, two men were arrested and police discovered a woman, uninjured, in the back of a car.

Now, WJZ has learned that charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault for the two men in the vehicle, Robert Bethea and Kerry Bethea (who also goes by the name Mark Jackson), are being dropped because the state can't seem to find that woman.

Jessica Kartalija has more.

"Unfortunately, despite our continued efforts to try and locate the victim -- which included using the Warrant Apprehension Task Force, detectives as well as the VICE squad -- we were unable to find the victim," said Rochelle Ritchie, a spokeswoman for the City State's Attorney's Office.

"Therefore, we had no choice but to pursue the charges that could be substantiated without the victim's testimony."

The Sky Eye Chopper 13 video from the August 6 shows Kerry Bethea jumping out of the car -- he threw a baggie that turned out to be drugs, according to police.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced for a drug charge.

But according to his attorney, 37-year old Robert Bethea never served time in jail or was even charged with a fine for the 25-minute chase.

"I want to make it clear, that while the state makes sentence recommendations, it is the court's obligation to impose that sentence," said Ritchie.

Kerry Bethea, meanwhile, was sentenced to 15 years, with all but 13 years suspended. Because he has served nine months, he may soon be released.