The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges against three suspects in connection with a kidnapping and aggravated battery.
Brittany Plitt, 22, and Heather Sutton, 23, both of Fort Walton Beach are charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery, and robbery. Chase Stewart, 28, of Destin is charged with principal to kidnapping.
The OCSO received information Monday that 23-year old Bethany Stanley of Niceville had been kidnapped on Jan. 27 and was being beaten and driven around the area in a white GMC pick-up truck, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.
Investigators were told that Plitt and Sutton believed Stanley had stolen drugs from their residence. After an intense search for the suspect’s vehicle, a deputy spotted the truck on Calhoun Avenue around 4:20 p.m. Monday.
The victim and suspects were also located at that address, according to the press release.
Stanley told investigators that Plitt and Sutton picked her up at the Circle K on Racetrack Road and then took her to a home on Hollywood Boulevard. Stanley said she was attacked there by Plitt and Sutton, as well as two other females.
She said she was tied up and repeatedly beaten over the next day until she was rescued in Destin.
Along with contusions, the victim had injuries to both eyes, a cigarette burn on her face, and ligature marks on her extremities. She says Stewart allowed them to keep her at his house and told her not to look at him or he would kill her.
Stanley also told investigators that Plitt and Sutton took her purse and cash and told her while driving around that they were going to kill her and drop her body on the side of the road.
Stanley was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.
The investigation is ongoing.