{"id":2412449,"date":"2025-03-11T12:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T16:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/good-samaritan-thwarts-alleged-kidnapping-attempt-after-reading-strange-note-in-gas-station-bathroom\/"},"modified":"2025-03-11T12:58:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T16:58:38","slug":"good-samaritan-thwarts-alleged-kidnapping-attempt-after-reading-strange-note-in-gas-station-bathroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/good-samaritan-thwarts-alleged-kidnapping-attempt-after-reading-strange-note-in-gas-station-bathroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Samaritan Thwarts Alleged Kidnapping Attempt After Reading Strange Note in Gas Station Bathroom"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgood-samaritan-thwarts-alleged-kidnapping-attempt-after-reading-strange-note-in-gas-station-bathroom%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2412449&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A bystander helped rescue an alleged\u2064 kidnapping victim at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-kyle-rittenhouse-finally-released-on-2-million-cash-bond\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Kyle Rittenhouse FINALLY Released on  Million Cash Bond\">gas station<\/a> in Southern Utah. The incident began when a woman\u2063 discreetly handed a note to another woman asking for help. The note \u2062detailed her distress and\u200c provided details about her captor, Epigmenio Bustillos\u200b Marquez, and the vehicle they were\u2064 traveling in. The witness\u2062 alerted the police and followed\u200b the vehicle until\u200b they were\u2064 stopped on \u200cthe highway. Upon questioning, the\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-columbia-university-student-assaulted-while-putting-up-posters-of-hamass-hostages-on-campus\/\" title=\"Israeli student attacked while posting Hamas hostage posters at Columbia University.\">victim\u2064 revealed<\/a>\u200b that Marquez\u2064 had physically \u200bthreatened her and \u200ctaken her phone during\u200c a fight about cheating. He\u200b was subsequently \u200darrested, and authorities discovered\u200c that\u200d he had false \u2063identification. Experts noted that the\u200b bystander\u2019s quick action \u2063likely saved the victim&#8217;s life. The \u200bvictim is now safe with her family, while Marquez remains in custody\u2064 without bail.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A bystander helped an alleged kidnapping victim escape from her captor at a gas station in southern Utah.<\/p>\n<p>Epigmenio Bustillos Marquez, 53, was arrested Saturday after Iron County Sheriff&rsquo;s deputies were called from the Cedar Band Travel Plaza near Cedar City, Utah, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13now.com\/news\/crime\/alleged-kidnapping-thwarted-in-southern-utah-after-victim-slipped-note-to-bystander\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KSTU<\/a> in Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n<p>The woman who called emergency services said she received a note from a woman in the gas station while they were in the women&rsquo;s bathroom.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I could just tell from the second that she handed me the paper that said, &lsquo;Help me, call police,&rsquo; I knew that she was in trouble,&rdquo; the good Samaritan told the news outlet.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think she was really terrified that he was going to peek in, and he would have seen us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>A picture of the note obtained by KSTU-TV included a call for help, identified the vehicle the victim was traveling in as a Chevrolet Equinox, and indicated that the alleged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cops-try-arrest-pervert-furious-neighbors-rip-away-can-get-street-justice-brutal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">captor<\/a> had her phone. The victim also included her phone number &ldquo;to give police.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The witness took pictures of the white Equinox into which the victim entered, as well as the suspect, then followed the vehicle as it traveled northward on Interstate 15.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t panicked or anything. I was just like, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m not gonna let this lady not be helped,&rsquo;&rdquo; the woman said.<\/p>\n<p>Police stopped the vehicle eight miles north of the gas station.<\/p>\n<p>When they spoke with the woman in the passenger seat, she was not behaving normally and requested to leave the vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>The victim told officers that she asked Marquez, with whom she has been in a relationship for 25 years, to drive her to her work at a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, but that Marquez started accusing her of cheating.<\/p>\n<p>Marquez then allegedly threatened to take her to Salt Lake City or Denver &mdash; rather than her workplace.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/missing-boy-whose-case-featured-netflix-show-located-law-enforcement-7-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">victim<\/a> also said that Marquez took her phone and hit her in the mouth.<\/p>\n<p>Marquez presented officers with an identification from Durango, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/exclusive-illegal-immigrant-arrested-driving-wife-hospital-wanted-murder-mexico-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mexico<\/a>, during the traffic stop, which had a false name and birth date.<\/p>\n<p>The officers later found his actual identification, also from Mexico, in his wallet.<\/p>\n<p>Kimmi Wolf of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition told KSTU-TV that the bystander may have saved the victim&rsquo;s life.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Something as severe as <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">domestic violence<\/a>, false credentials, kidnapping &mdash; all those indicators point to a high probability of lethality, and had this person been confronted in a different type of scenario, that could have ended very badly,&rdquo; Wolf said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a situation that happens often to many people. It&rsquo;s something we need to draw attention to; it&rsquo;s not some weird one-off situation,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/abducted-priest-found-murdered-ash-wednesday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">victim<\/a> is reportedly safe with her family and returning to work.<\/p>\n<p>Marquez is meanwhile being held without bail in Iron County Jail.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A bystander assisted a suspected kidnapping victim in escaping her captor at a gas station in southern Utah. Epigmenio Bustillos Marquez, 53, was arrested on Saturday after deputies from the Iron County Sheriff&#8217;s Office responded to a call from the Cedar Band Travel Plaza near Cedar City, Utah. The caller reported receiving a note from the woman while they were in the women&#8217;s restroom that read, &#8220;Help me, call police.&#8221; The good Samaritan recognized she was in danger and acted quickly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2412450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Bathroom-Help.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[48511,34354,47879,48314],"class_list":["post-2412449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-community-hero","tag-gas-station","tag-good-samaritan","tag-kidnapping-attempt"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Bathroom-Help.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2412449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2412449"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2412449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2412458,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2412449\/revisions\/2412458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2412450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2412449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2412449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2412449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}