Ogden, UT — Two men from Utah are facing a slew of serious criminal charges after allegedly kidnapping a woman at gunpoint, robbing her, and threatening her life during a harrowing encounter on December 4.
Jose Manual Batisdas-Gil, 22, of Eagle Mountain, and Alan Morales Eduarte, 21, of Salt Lake City, were charged in Utah County court on Monday with first-degree felonies, including aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery. The men also face multiple third-degree felonies for aggravated assault and three counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person. Additionally, the pair has been charged with misdemeanor offenses related to failure to stop at the command of police and possession of a controlled substance.
According to the Lehi Police Department, the victim, a woman who has not been named, reported that she was picked up by the two men at a Lehi motel on the evening of December 4. After entering their vehicle, she said both men appeared to be under the influence of drugs, and she could visibly see pink pills in the car. The suspects allegedly had firearms with them, which they were “waving around” as they drove.
During the drive, which the woman says was meant to take her home to Ogden, the men reportedly took her phone and refused to return it. One of the men is said to have “racked a gun” and threatened to kill her, prompting the woman to feel trapped and fearful for her safety.
At one point during the trip, as the vehicle passed through Roy, the woman noticed a police officer and tried to roll down the window to call for help. However, she claimed one of the suspects placed a gun in her mouth, again threatening her life. The woman was eventually dropped off at an undisclosed location in Roy, after which she contacted authorities.
In the hours following the woman’s report, investigators tracked her phone back to the Lehi motel where Batisdas-Gil and Eduarte had been staying. When officers arrived at the motel, the two men reportedly fled through the window of their room just before police entered. Both suspects initially refused to comply with police orders when confronted, but they were eventually apprehended and taken into custody.
The men were booked into the Utah County Jail, where they remain in custody pending further legal proceedings. If convicted on the charges, both Batisdas-Gil and Eduarte could face significant prison sentences, with the first-degree felony charges carrying penalties of up to life in prison.
The case highlights the growing concern over violent crime and the dangers posed by individuals in possession of illegal firearms. Police continue to investigate the incident and have urged anyone with further information to come forward.
As the legal process moves forward, authorities are emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes and the impact such incidents have on the safety of the community.