Update–kidnapping alleged in Pickens County

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the alleged kidnapping yesterday morning of a 66-year old woman from her home on Holly Springs School Road. Pickens County was notified at approximately 12:30pm yesterday by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in reference to an abandoned Jeep Cherokee registered to a Pickens County resident. The vehicle was found on the roadside of Highway 183 near the Oconee Nuclear Station in Oconee County. As Pickens deputies went to the home, they were told that Oconee authorities found the Jeep Cherokee owner after she allegedly was forced from the car and thrown into Lake Keowee. Investigation by Oconee and Pickens determined that an unknown male wearing an orange colored mask allegedly abducted the female. The unknown male forced the victim to drive him to various locations near the lake and at approximately 11:00am he made her stop the vehicle near the bridge on Hwy 183 and get out of the vehicle. The suspect forced the victim to go with him down through a wooded area to the water’s edge where she was pushed into the lake. A security officer from the Oconee Nuclear Station later saw the female in the water and helped her. She did not sustain any serious injuries and the suspect has not been identified or located. The motive for the incident has yet to be determined. The assailant is further described as being approximately 6’ tall with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a blue sweat shirt and black pants. His race is unknown at this time. Anyone that may have any information regarding this incident is asked to call the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 898-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.