Woman taken 200 miles by accused kidnapper escapes, Texas cops say. More victims feared

A Texas man is accused of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a woman he found on social media, but she was able to escape, police say.

Jamie Ray Rencher, 47, met the victim on social media and convinced her to meet with him face-to-face in Houston, the San Antonio Police Department said in a Jan. 8 news release. It was a trap.

“After meeting the victim, Rencher destroyed the victim’s cell phone, tied up and sexually assaulted (her),” police said.

She was 17 years old, police told KENS.

Rencher wanted to “keep her hidden,” according to police, and he drove 200 miles, from Houston to San Antonio, with her as his captive.

Police say she was “able to find help” and escape Rencher.

Police arrested Rencher on Dec. 31 on a charge of aggravated kidnapping with intent to sexually abuse. However, investigators don’t believe the woman was Rencher’s only victim.

“During the investigation, facts were uncovered that led detectives to believe there could be more victims. Those details are part of the ongoing investigation,” police said.

More charges are expected to be brought against Rencher.

Anyone with information related to the case, or other possible victims, is asked to contact SAPD’s special victims unit at 210-207-2313.

A local TV station report from 2019 shows this isn’t the first time Rencher has been accused of sexual violence.

Rencher, who was 41 at the time of the report, was arrested on a charge of aggravated sexual assault, KSAT reported. The victim told police that Rencher pushed her down, covered her mouth and nose with his hand, all while threatening to hurt her worse if she tried to fight back or run away. He tied her up with rope and sexually assaulted her, she told police, the station reported.