More details became available late last week surrounding the arrest of two suspects in connection with a carjacking January 25, and more charges are expected from the open investigation.
Gary Brian Ferguson III, 21, of 2406 Whitestone Road, North, Talking Rock, and Heather Francis Rudy, 33, of 116 Tarpley Lane, Morganton, remained held without bond in the Fannin County Jail Friday.
Both are charged with kidnapping, and Ferguson is also charged with possession of a firearm/knife during commission of a crime, and aggravated assault.
Fannin County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Erin Sehl said Friday Rudy was also on probation at the time of her arrest.
Sehl said the incident began unfolding when deputies were called to Tarpley Lane regarding a domestic disturbance, and were told shots had been fired. The disturbance involved the suspects, who left the area on foot, and another man.
Soon afterward, another call came into the 911 Center from a woman saying her husband had been held at gunpoint and forced to drive two people to a location on Greenhouse Road.
Deputies later learned Ferguson had jerked the door open of the vehicle the victim was driving and pointed a pistol at him.
Deputies swarmed the area and began a roving perimeter.
At one point, they were told by area residents the pair had fled into the woods. Deputies searched, anticipating the suspects to be armed and dangerous, but were not able to locate either the male or female.
After several hours with no success, deputies theorized the pair must have fled the area undetected.
As Sehl, Investigations Captain Justin Turner, Lieutenant Joel Pack and Lieutenant Charles Yannis were reviewing the situation, a call came in that a lady was holding the suspects at gunpoint. A relative of Ferguson’s had caught the two trying to break into her basement. Ferguson and Rudy were arrested and taken to the Fannin County Jail.
Also recovered were two firearms, one of them stolen, an ammo box and loaded magazines.