An Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate was arrested this week on suspicion of kidnapping and rape , authorities said. The candidate who offered to pick up a woman Sunday in Bethany attacked the victim with a pipe and may have sexually assaulted her.
Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate, 58, arrested for kidnapping and rape
Paul Tay, 58, who is running as an independent, is accused of attacking a woman who responded to a Craigslist ad Sunday for a job on his campaign team, theTulsaPoliceDepartment said. He allegedly locked the woman in his car, beat her with a pipe and sexually assaulted her in her home.
On Sunday, Tay offered to pick up the woman in Bethany, Oklahoma, but instead of driving to the intended destination of Oklahoma City, he began driving to Tulsa, according to police.
“The victim said she tried to get out, but Tay would not let her out of the car,” the department wrote on Facebook . “Instead, Tay hit the victim with a pipe and sexually assaulted her.”
Tay later ran out of gas about 30 miles south of Tulsa in Beggs, Oklahoma, the victim told police. He then allegedly locked the woman in the car while she begged for gas money.
“The victim said she was afraid to try to get out of the car because he had already assaulted her with a pipe,” police said.
Once he collected enough money for gas, Tay took the victim to his home in downtown Tulsa, where he allegedly sexually assaulted the woman again and raped her with a pipe.
On Monday, the woman said she convinced Tay to take her to a Walmart store to buy hygiene products, authorities said. While at the store, the victim was able to get away from Tay and asked a store employee for help.
Tay is charged with first-degree rape, kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon.
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