Arrest Made After Woman's Dramatic Kidnapping Escape

Last week, a 25-year-old nursing student in Alabama made a dramatic escape from the trunk of her car, where she had been locked at gunpoint, NBC News reports. On Tuesday, her alleged kidnapper was arrested. According to AL.com, 28-year-old Manuel Towns was released from prison two months ago after serving more than five years for marijuana possession. He also has robbery convictions dating back to 2005, WIAT reports. Police were led to him as a suspect in last week's kidnapping by tips from the public.

Police say Towns confronted Brittany Diggs at gunpoint outside her apartment March 14. He allegedly demanded money, then forced her into her car when she said she didn't have any. For the next 70 minutes or so, Towns drove to various locations, using Diggs' ATM card to withdraw money, according to police. Police say as Towns was leaving a gas station, Diggs used the light from her insulin pump to find the trunk's release latch and escape. She ran into the gas station, and the owner locked the door behind her and called police. Towns has been charged with kidnapping and robbery. Police say Towns and Diggs didn't know each other, and the the kidnapping appears to be random. (More kidnapping stories.)