Police: Woman kidnapped from home in Nassau County at knifepoint, rescued in Jacksonville Beach

Fernandina Beach, Fla. — A Fernandina Beach woman is safe after reportedly being kidnapped from her home at knifepoint by a Jacksonville man earlier this week.

According to the Fernandina Beach Police Department, on Tuesday, Nov. 2 officers responded to a home on South Fletcher Ave. for a well-being check of a female resident after she called and texted friends and family that she had been kidnapped and her abductor was threatening to kill her.

The victim’s family told police she was able to name a man before the call was abruptly disconnected: James Casey Vaughn, 48, of Jacksonville.

When patrol officers arrived, the home was empty and the victim’s car was still parked outside. Neighbors reported seeing a vehicle parked in front of the victim’s home the night before, according to police.

Investigators say they tracked Vaughn to Jacksonville Beach, where they found his Ford F250 in the parking lot of the Four Points Sheraton Hotel on First St.

Vaughn and the victim were found inside a hotel room. He was taken into custody and charged with felony kidnapping. His bond was set at $2 million.

Police say despite being taken from her home at knifepoint, the woman was not physically injured.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES & INFORMATION:

-Hubbard House

-Quigley House

-The National Domestic Violence Hotline

-CDC: Information on Intimate Partner Violence

-National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey

-National Center for Victims of Crime

-Florida Department of Children and Families Domestic Violence Resources

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