It was a heartbreaking crime that took place outside Michael Jackson’s childhood home of Gary, Indiana.
A 16-year-old girl and her father told Gary police they stopped by the house to take photos on Friday when a man with a gun approached them, demanded money, kidnapped them and attacked the girl.
Oasia Barnes, 69, was charged with 17 felonies, including first-degree rape.
“It’s really sad that it happened in broad daylight,” said Antoine Morland, who lives across the street.
The victim’s father told investigators that he was taking photos at the tourist attraction at 2300 Jackson Street when Barnes approached him, pointed a gun at his daughter’s ribs and demanded money.
The man said he gave Barnes about $300.
When Barnes told him he needed a ride, the father said he could take her car. According to the affidavit, Barnes said he wanted to have sex with the “pretty” girl. He threatened to kill her if they didn’t get in the car.
The girl’s father told police he felt he had no other choice.
In the car, Barnes repeatedly threatened to shoot them both, according to the affidavit. He led the man into an alley behind an abandoned house.
He said Barnes got out of the car with his daughter.
The father said he considered running over Barnes but did not want to hit his daughter. The man said he ran to a house and called 911.
Police later found the girl sitting with Barnes on a basement staircase in the 2200 block of Washington Street.
Chuck Hughes, president of the Gary Chamber of Commerce, called the crime disappointing and shocking. He said what happened in the house was not normal.
“There has never been an incident … not even close to what happened in this house,” Hughes said. “The incident has alerted the public – the authorities and the administration. … Because they know the city, they will be proactive.”
Mayor Eddie Melton said he was “devastated by this horrific act and my sincere condolences go out to the victim and his family.”
“As mayor, my primary goal is to make Gary a safe place for everyone,” Melton said. “This isolated incident does not reflect who we are as a community. I want to commend citizens for their vigilance. Thanks to their help, law enforcement was able to locate the victim in less than six hours. I thank the Gary Police Department for their quick response and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies in resolving this case. We will continue to support our law enforcement officers in their efforts to prosecute this offender.”
Police Chief Derrick Cannon said he was “proud of the responsiveness of the Gary Police Department, who worked closely with the FBI and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to use surveillance technology to locate and arrest this depraved criminal in less than six hours.”
“I also commend the citizens who answered the call to find the missing victim and bring him to safety,” said Chief Cannon. “This is what community solidarity looks like. The charges should send a clear message. If you engage in criminal activity in Gary, we will take every legal action to ensure you receive the maximum sentence the law provides.”
Barnes is being held without bail. His next court date is August 21.
