Carroll County

College student warning others after she was kidnapped from grocery store

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — A college student is speaking out and sharing her story to warn others after she was kidnapped from a grocery store parking lot.

Jaila Gladden, a 22-year-old University of West Georgia student, said she went to a Kroger in Carrollton to get some tea one night in September.

Surveillance video shows the moment a suspect approached her, put a knife to her stomach, shoved her into her car and climbed into the driver's seat.

"I was in shock at that moment and I didn't know what to do," Gladden said.

Timothy Wilson is accused of kidnapping a college student from a grocery store parking lot.

Police said the suspect, identified as Timothy Wilson, 28, drove her an hour away, assaulted her and threatened to kill her for nearly two hours.

"He told me there was no purpose of crying," Gladden said.

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Police said Wilson told Gladden he was driving to Michigan. She said he gave her back her cellphone so she could find a gas station for him to rob. She took that opportunity to try to get help.

"I texted my boyfriend my location immediately and told him I had been kidnapped," Gladden said.

Her boyfriend mapped her location via the phone's tracking system and called police.

A woman who was kidnapped from a grocery store texted her boyfriend for help.

A few hours later, Wilson was captured and Gladden was rescued.

Now, Gladden's attorney is demanding answers from Kroger.

"Why wasn't there a security guard in this parking lot?" Rod Dixon said.

Kroger released the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the terrible suffering Ms. Gladden endured from these atrocious criminal acts. We extend our sympathy to Mrs. Gladden, her family and friends. We have been and will continue to assist the Atlanta Police Department and Carrollton Police Department in any way we can to help bring this criminal to justice."

Dixon said they plan on filing a lawsuit against Kroger.

Wilson pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held at the Fulton County Jail.