Brian Peach
Daily Egyptian
The Carbondale man accused of kidnapping two women in Carbondale Saturday is also accused of raping one of them twice before threatening to commit suicide, according to the probable cause statement filed at the County Clerk's Office in St. Charles, Mo.
According to the court file, Robert Gibson, 20, allegedly abducted two women, ages 27 and 31, shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Convenient Food Mart, located at 315 E. Walnut. The suspect allegedly kidnapped the women at gunpoint and forced them to drive him in their car.
Donovan Kenton, public information officer at the St. Charles Police Department, confirmed that Gibson allegedly raped one of the women when the three reached Marion. He then allegedly raped the same woman again when they reached Effingham via Interstate 57.
According to the court file, upon reaching St. Charles at about 6 a.m., Gibson forced the women to drive around the town before stopping for fuel.
At the gas station, Gibson allegedly left the car keys with the women and went inside to pay for the fuel. The women started to drive away when the suspect saw them and attempted to stop the women by smashing in one of the car windows with his pistol.
Free of their assailant, the women drove to a nearby gas station and called police, giving them a description of the suspect.
Police began searching near the gas station where the women escaped, and Donovan said police viewed Gibson walking down a street with his gun in clear view. According to the court file, when police attempted to stop Gibson, he put the gun to his head and threatened to kill himself. Two officers managed to talk down Gibson and took him into custody.
Gibson is being held in the St. Charles County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. He is charged with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of possession of more than 35 grams of marijuana. Additional charges are pending.
The crime has brought on a joint investigation by the FBI and the Illinois State police. The FBI is still deciding the jurisdiction and state Gibson will be tried in since he traveled across state lines.
Carbondale Police say Gibson's last known address in Carbondale is 613 E. College St.
Reporter Brian Peach can be reached at bpeach@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
