‘No one will find you out here’: Goshen man arrested for allegedly kidnapping girlfriend

ELBERTA, Utah (ABC4) — A Goshen man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting and kidnapping his girlfriend, then leaving her on a rural dirt road.

Luis Garcia-Lopez, 33, is charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping (first-degree felony), one count of aggravated robbery (first-degree felony), one count of aggravated assault (third-degree felony), one count of reckless endangerment (Class A misdemeanor), and one count of damage communication device (Class B misdemeanor).

According to court documents, on Oct. 10, dispatch received a 911 call with a female on the other end of the line asking for help but providing no further details. The line disconnected. After law enforcement tried calling back a few times, the phone began ringing to voicemail.

The area was off of Highway 68 in Utah County. Court documents state that deputies checked the area but were not able to locate anyone in distress.

Court documents report that over an hour later; dispatch received another 911 phone call from a female (hereafter referred to as victim). The victim had called dispatch from a passerby cell phone. The victim stated they were assaulted by their boyfriend, who was later identified as Garcia-Lopez.

When law enforcement met the victim, it is reported that she was walking with a limp,
had blood on and around her mouth, and had a swollen right hand.

The victim told police that she had been in an argument with Garcia-Lopez while driving. The victim stated that Garcia-Lopez suddenly turned off on a back road off of Highway 68.
When the victim asked to be let out of the truck, Garcia-Lopez threatened the victim by telling her he had his gun with him.

Court documents report that Garcia-Lopez followed the threat by saying ‘we can take this farther’ and reached to a compartment of the truck and pulled an object from it. The victim was unable to say for certain it was a handgun.

Approximately 10 minutes later, Garcia-Lopez told the victim he was not letting her out of the truck, and she could “jump out” of the moving vehicle if she wanted to get out.

The victim waited for a natural slow in the roadway and jumped out of the moving truck in an effort to escape, according to court documents. The victim stated she then called 911. Garcia-Lopez stopped the truck, went to the victim, took the phone and struck her in the face
several times. Garcia-Lopez then took the victim’s cell phone and a set of car keys from victim’s person and reportedly told her that “no one will find you’ out here.

Court documents state that the victim then walked for approximately 1.5 hours until a good Samaritan stopped and asked them if she needed help. The second 911 call was made from the Samaritan’s phone.

Garcia-Lopez has been booked into Utah County Jail on Wednesday.